2005 Somaliland parliamentary election

Parliamentary elections were held in Somaliland on 29 September 2005. They were the first multiparty parliamentary election conducted in the breakaway republic.

Electoral system

The 82 members of the House of Representatives were elected by open list proportional representation with the six multi-member constituencies based on the regions. The number of seats for each region was based on those used for the 1960 elections and multiplied by 2.5.

Seat allocation by region
Region	Seats
Awdal	13
Wooqoyi Galbeed	20
Saaxil	10
Togdheer	15
Sanaag	12
Sool	12
Source: IRI

Campaign

At the time of the elections, the constitution limited the number of political parties to three:

• Peace, Unity, and Development Party (Kulmiye) led by Muse Bihi, the incumbent president
• For Justice and Development (Ururka Caddaalada iyo Daryeelka, UCID) led by Faysal Ali Warabe
• For Unity, Democracy, and Independence (Ururka dimuqraadiga ummadda bahawday, UDUB) led by Dahir Riyale Kahin

A total of 246 candidates contested the elections, including five women.

Conduct

A team of 76 observers from Canada, Finland, Kenya, South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States and Zimbabwe monitored the polls. They described that the elections were conducted in a peaceful condition and were generally free and fair, nonetheless, the vote had fallen short of meeting several international standards.

Results

Party		Votes	%	Seats
	For Unity, Democracy, and Independence	261,449	39.00	33
	Peace, Unity, and Development Party	228,328	34.06	28
	For Justice and Development	180,545	26.93	21
Invalid/blank votes		4,585	–	–
Total		674,907	100	82
Source: IRI