Flashback: First Somaliland Parliament in 1960 (Historical Pics+Docs)

Commemorating 26 June 1960  and a lost – but regained – jewel!

On February 17 1960, the very first Somaliland elections for parliament were held. Four major political parties – the SNL, NUF, USP and SYL – and a few independent runners contested for 33 national seats.

The number of seats of the Legislature of Somaliland, procedures, voting, in-house elections, etc. were based on a very comprehensive text embodied in articles 16 to 38 of a draft Somaliland Constitution that, however, came into legal effect on 26 June 1960, coinciding with the new republic coming into maturity as an internationally recognized, sovereign state among its peers in the world.

The results were as below:

The MPs who won seats in the elections, their constituencies, and clans were as follows.

(A) Hargeysa District Constituencies

Somali National League (SNL) MPs:

1. Abdullahi Hussein  Ina-Doobilkoole – Arab

2.  Alili Mohamed Haji Abokor, Habr Awal

3. Sh Barkhad Awaleh, Habr Awal Jaamac Cabdilaahi Qaalib Ina-Diir-qadhaadh S.N.L, Ciidagale, Reer Buraale, Salaxley.

4. Jama Abdilahi Qalib – Ina-Diir-qadhaadh,  Eidagaleh

5. Yussuf Ismail Samatar, “Gaandi” , Habr Awal

6. Mohamed Bihi Shuuriye, Tumaal

7. Haji Ibrahim Osman Food, “Basbaas”, Habr Yonis

(B) Burao District Constituencies

1. Ahmed-Keyse Haji Dualeh S.N.L, Habr Je’lo
2. Abokor Haji Farah, Habr Yonis
3. Sheikh Ali Ismail Yaqub, Habr Yonis
4. Esse Jama Mohamud Gaade, Habr Je’lo
5. Yusuf Kahin Ahmed, Habr Awal
6. Mohamud Yasin Sh Musa, Habr Awal

(C) Berbera District Constituencies

1. Mohamed Ibrahim Egal, Habr Awal
2. Haji Yusuf Iman Guled,  Habr Yonis
3. Haji Abdilahi Deria – Gamgam, Habr Awal
4. Haji Adan Yusuf, Habr Awal
5. Ali Qawdhan, Habr Awal

(D) Erigavo District Constituencies

National United Front (NUF) MPs:

1. Michael Mariano,  Habr Je’lo

Somali National League (SNL) MPs:

2. Mohamed Ali Farah, Habr Je’lo
3. Sh Ahmed Mohamud Dalmar,  Habr Yonis

United Somali Party (USP) MPs:

4. Abdilahi Qablan Mohamed , Warsangeli
5. Mohamud Ahmed Salax ”Caddaanweyne”,  Warsangeli

(E) Las Anod District Constituencies

1. Ali Garaad Jama,   Dhulbahanteh
2. Osman Garad Mohamud, Dhulbahanteh
3. Abdalla Haji Farah, Dhulbahanteh
4. Mohamed Yusuf Geedeeye, Dhulbahanteh
5. Ibrahim Eid , Dhulbahanteh

(F) Borama District Constituencies

1. Sh. Abibakar Sh. Omar, Gadabursi
2. Jama Geelle Essa, Essa
3. Haji Musa Ahmed Shirwa,  Essa
4. Abdi Hassan Buuni, Gadabuursi
5. Haji Ibrahim Nur, Gadabursi

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Royal_Proclamation_SL_Protect_1960

Treaties_between_the_UK_and_the_State_of_Somaliland_1960

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Sources

• Wikipedia Somaliland Elections 1960
• www.somalilandlaw.com
• Political Parties and National Integration in Tropical Africa, by James Smoot Coleman, Carl.
• Jamhuuriya 1997-ki, as narrated by  historian Saeed Ali Geir