By:-Eng.Abdi Ali Barkhad.
More than three decades have passed since the collapse of the Somali state in 1991. Yet Somalia continues to struggle with political fragmentation, clan rivalries, insecurity, and weak state institutions. During the same period, the Republic of Somaliland developed functioning government institutions, maintained relative peace and stability, and conducted multiple democratic elections.
This contrast raises an important question: Why has Somalia been unable to build a strong federal government while Somaliland has managed to establish functioning state institutions?.
One of the main reasons frequently cited by analysts is the continued dominance of clan-based politics in Somalia. Since the collapse of the central government in 1991, political power has often been distributed through clan formulas rather than through strong national institutions. As a result, political competition frequently revolves around clan interests instead of national priorities.
The federal system itself remains contested. Relations between Mogadishu and several Federal Member States have often been characterized by political disputes over power-sharing, constitutional authority, resource distribution, and elections. These disagreements have weakened national cohesion and slowed institution-building.
Security challenges have also played a major role. The continued threat posed by Al-Shabaab has forced successive governments to focus heavily on security issues, often at the expense of long-term state-building and economic development. Large portions of government resources have been directed toward military operations and stabilization efforts.
Somalia’s dependence on international assistance has further complicated the process of building self-sustaining institutions. While foreign aid has helped prevent state collapse, critics argue that it has also reduced incentives for political leaders to develop efficient domestic systems capable of generating revenue and delivering public services independently.
In contrast, Somaliland pursued a different path after reasserting its independence on May 18, 1991. Through a series of locally driven reconciliation conferences, traditional elders, political leaders, and community representatives worked to establish peace and create governing institutions from the ground up.
Over the past 35 years, Somaliland has built executive, legislative, judicial, security, and local government institutions. It has held multiple presidential, parliamentary, and local council elections and achieved several peaceful transfers of power. Six presidents have served Somaliland since 1991, and political competition has generally taken place through elections rather than armed conflict.
Supporters of Somaliland argue that these achievements demonstrate the effectiveness of its governance model. They point to relative stability, functioning institutions, and democratic processes as evidence that Somaliland has succeeded where Somalia has struggled.
Many Somali intellectuals, political observers, and international analysts believe that Somalia still faces a long and difficult path toward building a fully effective federal state. They argue that unless political leaders place national interests above clan interests, strengthen institutions, improve accountability, and resolve constitutional disputes, Somalia may continue to face governance challenges for many years.
At the same time, Somaliland’s experience offers valuable lessons in reconciliation, institution-building, local ownership, and democratic development. Whether or not the international community ultimately recognizes Somaliland as an independent state, its experience remains a significant case study in post-conflict governance in the Horn of Africa.
For many observers, Somaliland’s stability and institutional development should serve as a model worthy of study not only in the Horn of Africa but across the wider East African region.
Engineer Abdi Ali Barkhad is a senior consultant. He has also studied international diplomacy and is a political analyst and writer known for his detailed commentary on the politics of the Horn of Africa and international relations. He has published numerous articles analyzing current policies in the region. E-MAIL tra50526@gmail.com