Q & A: Somaliland’s Guurti Sparks a Crisis

The self-declared Republic of Somaliland – a de facto independent state formed from Somalia’s north-western regions – is often described as an island of stability in a sea of conflict. Much of the security enjoyed by its estimated 3.5 million people is attributed to a “hybrid” governance system marrying traditional authority with modern Western style democratic governance. But Somaliland’s main donors have expressed concern over recent developments that beg the question whether its mixed political arrangements are robust enough. CLAIRE ELDER & CEDRIC BARNES from the INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP’s Horn of Africa Project discuss why a decision by the so-called Guurti – the Upper House of Elders – worries Somaliland’s international partners and risks causing a dangerous political and clan polarization. Read Full Article