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EXECUTIVEAND LOCALGOVERNANCE
Overview
In contrast with its southern neighbor, Somaliland has received international praise for its
relative stability and good governance, and is seen as a model of democratic progress in the
region. However, 20 years after the establishment of the country’s first civilian administration
during the Grand Borama Conference,
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Somaliland’s governing structures are still under-
resourced and lacking clarity in their respective roles and responsibilities. Importantly, the
Borama Conference shaped the future of Somaliland’s governing architecture by providing for
the establishment of local administrations, headed by appointed regional governors and district
mayors elected by district councilors. In accordance with the 2001 constitution, these
administrations became elected local councils following Somaliland’s first ever local council
elections in 2002.
For this reason, the legitimacy of the Somaliland presidential system is arguably inextricably
bound to the success of local governance, with high public expectations placed on
decentralization to deliver basic services in a country that has suffered considerably due to civil
war. The last ten years have also seen Somaliland’s governance landscape equally distracted
and shaped by elections characterized more by sub-clan politicking than issues of concern to the
public, at the local, parliamentary and presidential levels.
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A key challenge moving forward is
for Somaliland governing institutions to focus on the everyday business of governing and to
establish ways of working in between elections, which take up considerable financial and
human resources.
Legal Context and Background
The basis of the local and national governance structure is enshrined in the 2001 Somaliland
constitution,
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itself based on the national charter arising out of the 1993 Borama Conference in
which a decentralized system of governance was laid out. Under the constitution, Somaliland
has a republican form of government consisting of three branches: the legislative, the executive
and the judiciary. Each branch exercises independently the exclusive powers accorded to it
under the constitution.
The executive branch is headed by the elected president and consists of the president, vice-
president and the council of ministers appointed by the president. According to Somaliland’s
constitution, the president is directly elected for a maximum of two five-year terms and appoints
the cabinet.
The decentralized government structure, outlined in the constitution (Articles 109-112) and the
Regions and Districts Self-Administration Law
(Law No. 23 from 2002, as amended in 2007)
consists of six regional and 42 district authorities. The administrations are led by regional
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One of a series of conferences orchestrated by the country’s traditional leaders, the
Guurti.
See parliament
section for more information on the
Guurti
.
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See political party section for more details.
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In 2000, a 45-member committee appointed jointly by the president and parliament came up with a commonly
acceptable draft constitution. A referendum was held on May 31, 2001, with 97 percent in favor. Those who were
less in favor were on the disputed Puntland border in Sool in the east.
