The Somaliland National Party ( so, Xisbiga Waddani, lit=Patriotic Party), sometimes referred to as the Waddani National Party and better known by its shortened Somali form Waddani, is a

political party A political party is an organization that coordinates candidates to compete in a particular country's elections. It is common for the members of a party to hold similar ideas about politics, and parties may promote specific ideological or p ...

in Somaliland. The party was founded by Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Irro) in 2012, ahead of the second

municipal elections In many parts of the world, local elections take place to select office-holders in local government, such as mayors and councillors. Elections to positions within a city or town are often known as "municipal elections". Their form and conduct vary ...

later that year. On 16 November 2021 Hersi Ali Haji Hassan was elected as the new chairman of the opposition party. Economically the party leans left, defending the establishment of a universal healthcare system, public investment and doubling resources in education. It is progressive on issues regarding minority rights and fundamental freedoms, such as proposing a quorum of 30% of women in parliament. The party also supports greater decentralisation. Additionally, the party places great importance on Islamic moral and cultural heritage, and intends to give it a more important place in the education system and in the establishment of laws. The party's economic and diplomatic policy is also more

nationalist Nationalism is an idea and movement that holds that the nation should be congruent with the state. As a movement, nationalism tends to promote the interests of a particular nation (as in a group of people), Smith, Anthony. ''Nationalism: Th ...

than that of its rivals, and this nationalism also applies to issues of defense, with the party promising to increase funding dedicated to the army. The constitution of Somaliland only allows for the top three political parties to contest elections, to avoid the previous proliferation of clan-based parties in the 1960s. Waddani became one of the three in 2012, replacing the

United Peoples' Democratic Party The United Peoples' Democratic Party (), shortened UDUB, was one of the three political parties in Somaliland. It was founded by president Egal in July 2001 in the preparation of the elections, which were originally scheduled for December 20 ...

(UDUB).

2017 Somaliland presidential election

Presidential elections were held on 13 November 2017, the third direct presidential election since 2003. General elections had been scheduled to be held on 27 March 2017 to elect both the

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university * President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ...

and

House of Representatives House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entitles. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often c ...

, but were postponed by six months due to the drought condition in the region. The elections to elect the

and

Vice President A vice president, also director in British English, is an officer in government or business who is below the president (chief executive officer) in rank. It can also refer to executive vice presidents, signifying that the vice president is on ...

were eventually held separately on 13 November. Incumbent President

Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud "Silanyo" ( so, Axmed Maxamed Maxamuud Siilaanyo, ar, احمد محمد محمود سيلانيو) (born 1938) is a Somaliland politician who was President of Somaliland from 2010–2017. He is a long-time member of the g ...

of the

Peace, Unity, and Development Party The Kulmiye Peace, Unity and Development Party ( so, Xisbiga Kulmiye Nabad, Midnimo iyo Horumarka; ar, حزب التضامن), also known as simply Kulmiye (), is a political party in Somaliland. The party was founded by Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud ...

(Kulmiye) did not run for a second term. The result was a victory for ruling

Kulmiye The Kulmiye Peace, Unity and Development Party ( so, Xisbiga Kulmiye Nabad, Midnimo iyo Horumarka; ar, حزب التضامن), also known as simply Kulmiye (), is a political party in Somaliland. The party was founded by Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud ...

party candidate

Muse Bihi Abdi Musa Bihi Abdi ( so, Muuse Biixi Cabdi, ar, موسى بيحي عبدي) (born 1948 in Hargeisa, British Somaliland, now Somaliland) is a Somaliland politician and former military officer who has been President of Somaliland since December 2017. ...

, who received 55% of the vote.

2021 Somaliland parliamentary election

Parliamentary elections were held in Somaliland on 31 May 2021, the first since 2005. On 6 June it was announced that Waddani had received 31 out of 82 seats and it will form a coalition with the

Justice and Welfare Party The Justice and Welfare Party ( so, Ururka Caddaalada iyo Daryeelka, UCID; ar, حزب العدالة والتنمية), sometimes translated as the Justice and Welfare Association, is the oldest political party in Somaliland. The party tends to ...

(UCID). The coalition will have 52 seats combined, compared to previous ruling party Kulmiye which has only 30.

Electoral history

Presidential elections

Parliamentary elections

Local elections

Notes

External links

Waddani website
{{Somaliland political parties Islamic political parties in Somaliland Political parties in Somaliland