As the president elect of Somaliland prepares go get down to work with his inauguration set for a fortnight, it remains to be seen what kind of cabinet he will announce.
Sources within the Waddani circles intimate that president-elect Abdullahi Irro will be content to work with key figures who helped him ascend to power, but he will also be looking at professionals to fill the key positions in government and help improve the country’s battered economy that is coupled with spiraling unemployment among the youth.
During his campaigns across Somaliland, Irro talked about change in how the country is run and promised to end the culture of nepotism that has brought about corruption in the country.
Key among the positions that Irro will be looking at professionals will be the ministry of Trade and Finance whose responsibility is to woo foreign investors into the country.
But there is also the foreign ministry docket that will up the ante in the nation’s quest of recognition while handling delicate matters like the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the outgoing president Muse Bihi with Ethiopia Prime Minister Mohamed Abiy.
The agreement, signed on January 1, 2024, grants Ethiopia a 50-year lease on a 20-kilometer stretch of Somaliland’s coastline near the Berbera port, providing Ethiopia with direct access to the Red Sea in exchange for recognition of Somaliland’s sovereignty.
The MoU’s economic advantages for Somaliland are ambiguous. While it offers Ethiopia a strategic maritime outlet, the specific benefits for Somaliland, such as potential lease or infrastructure development revenue, have not been clearly articulated. The lack of transparency has led to domestic skepticism regarding the deal’s value to Somaliland’s economy. Days to his election, Irro said his leadership will look into the MOU which has remained Bihi’s secret.
Regionally, the agreement has significantly strained relations with Somalia. The federal government in Mogadishu views the MoU as a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, given that Somaliland’s independence is not internationally recognized. In response, Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud condemned the deal, stating, “We will not stand idly by and watch our sovereignty being compromised.”
The diplomatic fallout extends beyond Somalia. Egypt, which has its own geopolitical tensions with Ethiopia, particularly over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, has also expressed opposition to the MoU.
Securing international recognition is Somaliland’s longest-running aspiration, and Irro’s presidency is expected to double down on this effort. Previous administrations focused heavily on courting Western nations, including the United States and the United Kingdom, with limited success. Irro’s Wadani party, however, has signaled a shift toward engaging African and Global South states.
This is a clear indicator that the new holder of the foreign docket has his in-tray already full.
Then there is the other aspect of ensuring the unity in the country. Irro will have to name a cabinet that has the face of Somaliland and encompasses all communities in the country. Waddani coalition partner KAAH will also been looking forward to get a piece of the cake.
President Abdirahman Irro’s administration faces high expectations. Delivering on promises of inclusivity, economic revitalization, and diplomatic progress will determine whether Somaliland can consolidate its gains or remain mired in unresolved challenges.
