Good News from the Horn

Oppostition leader Ahmed Mohamud Silanyo is elected Somaliland president (AP)

Africa’s horn could use some good news. All of its members save Djbouti are in the top 30 of the 2010 failed states index–with Somalia topping the list for the third year running.

But there is still cause for hope writes Human Rights Watch researcher, Chris Albin-Lackey, and it comes from an unlikely and overlooked source:

“Ask people what they know about Somalia and most will probably start talking about pirates, terrorists, and Black Hawk Down. Not many would think to mention democracy or free elections as well, but they should. Last month, Somaliland–an impoverished sliver of territory that has maintained de facto independence from Somalia since 1991–held elections that put the democratic pretenses of its neighbors in the Horn of Africa to shame.

The presidential election was described by independent observers as free, fair, and peaceful. Even more remarkable, a veteran opposition politician, Ahmed Silanyo, was declared the winner and the incumbent president, Dahir Riyale Kahin, handed over power to his rival. This is headline news that unfortunately hasn’t made the headlines.”

Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has yet to be recognized by any international state or organization. If the recent elections are any gauge, perhaps more attention should be paid to a state that has held successful democratic elections with strong voter turnout (despite warnings from Al-Qaeda telling people not to participate) and a smooth transition to power from an opposition candidate.

Read the rest of Albin-Lackey’s article here: From the Horn of Africa, A Ray of Hope.