Much like the late President Mohamed Haji Ibrahim Egal, the current President Muse Bihi is not popular with the media and vocal groups in Somaliland. However, it's important to note that the reasons for this differ significantly.
Kulmiye1 and Somaliland Sovereignty
During their time in government, former Kulmiye member Hirsi Ali Xaaji and his group, known as Kulmiye1, temporarily stopped pursuing international recognition for Somaliland. This has been confirmed by an insider and a close ally of Somaliland on the international stage. President Bihi, however, has ended seven years of self-imposed isolation and reaffirmed Somaliland's sovereignty by establishing new diplomatic relations. Additionally, Bihi has taken decisive action to counteract Farmajo's aggressive attempts to undermine Somaliland's sovereignty.
Intellectuals and Populism
While there are a few intellectuals within the Kulmiye party, their contributions have not been prominently showcased. Louder voices emphasizing tribal affiliations have a more significant influence. As a result, Bihi's election campaign strategy focused mainly on tribal alliances, which led to the suppression of emerging leaders with progressive ideas, such as the new mayor of Hargeysa and others who were subsequently imprisoned. Therefore, it can be argued that Kulmiye operates as a populist party. Ministerial appointments are made based on sub-clan affiliations rather than qualifications, leading to a cabinet that includes individuals involved in dubious dealings with a fictitious Chinese bank, seeking to be part of Sri Leone's internet domain (.SL), and associating with a fake called the Kingdom of the Yellow Mountain.
Recommendations: From Tribes to Principles
It's widely acknowledged that Kulmiye needs reform to avoid the same fate as the disbanded UDUB party. The bigger question is how to achieve this change. In my view, Kulmiye should embrace and advocate for a set of core principles. These principles align with Muse Bihi's recent actions, including asserting Somaliland's sovereignty, implementing anti-corruption measures, advocating for progressive taxation, opposing fundamentalism, and committing to centre-left, social liberalism. These ideas can resonate with every household and go beyond familial divisions. They stand in contrast to the practice of jeeganism (tribal alliances).
Bihi and Egal
Unlike Egal, Bihi is often seen as a populist. Egal firmly stuck to his core principles and was not swayed by the pursuit of votes or the fear of impeachment. The reason for comparing Egal to Bihi is their shared experience of facing strong opposition rooted in tribal divisions. In this context, tribal distinctions are not important. While tribes may have cultural significance, politically, the same set of principles can benefit everyone regardless of their tribal background. This generation needs leaders who focus on our given names rather than our extended family or tribe names.
It may seem too late for Bihi to move away from tribal affiliations. However, he could explore new paradigms and potentially face short-term electoral setbacks, which is a normal part of genuine democracy. Parties built on principles may lose elections but continue to exist, whereas individuals and tribal rhetoric eventually fade away. Egal may have passed away, but his ideas endure and have helped make Somaliland the only democracy in the Horn of Africa. Therefore, with or without a second term, President Bihi should consider how people will remember him in 20 years rather than focusing solely on the next election.
As a first step, he could appoint a cabinet with at least 30% women to balance the male-dominated parliament.