Somaliland: President, 13 November 2017

At stake in this election:

• The office of President of Somaliland

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Ahmed Mahamoud SILANYO
• Head of Government: President Ahmed Mahamoud SILANYO
• Assembly: Somaliland has a bicameral Parliament (Baarlamaanka) consisting of the House of Elders (Golaha Guurtida) with 82 seats and the House of Representatives (Golaha Wakiilada) with 82 seats.

Description of electoral system:

• The President is elected by plurality vote to serve a 4-year term.
• President is elected by plurality vote.
• In the House of Elders (Golaha Guurtida) 82 members are reserved for tribal leaders to serve 5-year terms. In the House of Representatives (Golaha Wakiilada) 82 members are elected by proportional representation to serve 5-year terms.**

** Members are elected in 6 multi-member constituencies.

Candidates in this presidential race:

• Muse Bihi ABDI
  • Party: Unity and Development Party / Xisbiga Kulmiye 
• Abdullah IRRO
  • Party: For Justice and Development Party (UCID)
• Ali WARABE: 
  • Party: Somaliland National Party / Xisbiga Waddani 

Muse Bihi Abdi the winner of the election with 55.1% against his opponents tallies of 40.7% for Abdullahi Irro and 4.7% for Ali Warabe.

Population and Registered Voters:

• Population: 3,850,000 (2009 est.)

• Registered Voters: 704198 (2017 est.)

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 

·         Is Somaliland a signatory to CEDAW: No

·         Has Somaliland ratified CEDAW: No

·         Gender Quota: 

·         Female candidates in this election: 

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 

·         Human Development Index Position: 0

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: Very High (Somalia)

Disability Data:

·         Is Somaliland a signatory to CRPD: No

·         Has Somaliland ratified CRPD: No

·         Population with a disability: