SUMMARY
The Republic of Somaliland first became independent in 1960, five days before the rest of the territory of present-day Somalia. Strong powers of unification however brought Somaliland into the fold soon after, with the territory becoming part of a united Somalia. Unlike the other parts of present-day Somalia, Somaliland was a British protectorate until 1960, with the rest of the country being an Italian colonial holding. The Republic of Somaliland was re-established shortly after the declaration of independence in May 1991. The SNM (Somali National Movement) Chair Ahmed Ali ‘Tuur’ was elected as the first president of Somaliland at one of the founding conferences.
The territory claimed by Somaliland encompasses the north-western regions of Awdal, Maroodi Jeex, Saaxil and Togdheer - which are under its full control - and the disputed regions of Sool and Sanaag, which are claimed also by the Puntland authorities. The self-proclaimed capital is the city of Hargeisa. In addition to the territorial disputes with the authorities of Puntland, the Somaliland authorities were embroiled in political conflict with the TFG (Transitional Federal Government), which claims sovereignty over the entirety of Somali territory.
In comparison with most other parts of Somalia in the aftermath of Siad Barres fall from power Somaliland has been quiet and peaceful, with power resolutely solidified in the hands of the Somaliland authorities. Somaliland maintains a civil administration on its territory, as well as an organized military arm (the Somaliland Armed Forces) and a police force. The administration functions through an elected presidency, a bi-cameral legislature, an independent judiciary and a relatively functional democracy fused with traditional forms of government. The Republic of Somaliland is, however, in essence governed along clan lines, with the Dir and Isaaq clans being dominant. Within the Dir clan the Gadabursi sub-clan is the most dominant, but the Issaq clan outnumbers it and the Dir clan in general by far.
Re-establishing the Republic of Somaliland however proved to be somewhat challenging in the beginning. The SNM had been divided along clan lines and ‘Tuur’, himself a Habar Yunis of the Garhajis (Isaaq) was seen by some as a promoter of his own clan rather than of Somaliland at large. A political rift existed between ‘Tuur’ and the former Chair of SNM, Ahmed Silanyo of the Habar Jaalo, which infected the inter-clan relations in the early days.
Following the conflicts in Burao and Berbera in early 1992 there were a number of conferences that tried to settle the long running disputes between the clans. The conferences, first in Sheikh in late 1992 and then in Borama in January 1993 were very important for the development of a Somaliland state, but also meant a decreasing influence of SNM. Elders were the key to decision making and more than 2000 people are reported to have attended the Borama conference. The decline of SNMs importance became even clearer in June of 1993 when ‘Tuur’ was replaced by Mohamed Haji Ibrahim Egal of the Issa Muse of Awal (Isaaq). Egal’s first term was also to be strongly influenced by conflict in the region but he was given another chance in 1997. Egal died in 2002 and was replaced by Vice-President Dahir Riyale Kahin who was replaced by Ahmed Silanyo following presidential elections in 2010.
The Republic of Somaliland has been involved in the state-based and non-state category of UCDP organized violence.
