Title: Somaliland Bureaucracy And Red Tape: Mapping The Causes, Consequences, And Strategies For Simplification
Authors: Mustafe Mahamoud Abdillahi
PhD
Volume: 9
Issue: 11
Pages: 287-295
Publication Date: 2025/11/28
Abstract:
Background: Somaliland existed in a unique position as a self-declared state that had established a hybrid model of governance. The efficiency of its developing public administration system was critical for service delivery, economic development, and state legitimacy, yet it was often characterized by significant bureaucratic inefficiency or red tape. Objective: This scoping review aimed to map the existing literature and evidence to provide a comprehensive overview of the causes and consequences of administrative burdens in Somaliland for both citizens and organizations. It further sought to explore proposed or implemented strategies for bureaucratic simplification. Methods: A scoping review methodology was employed, following the frameworks of Arksey & O'Malley and the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. The search strategy encompassed academic databases and grey literature sources using terms related to "Somaliland," "bureaucracy," "red tape," "administrative burden," and "governance." Inclusion criteria focused on literature discussing public administration, citizen-state interactions, and business regulation within the Somaliland context. Results: The review identified key conceptual themes. The causes of red tape were deeply rooted in historical legacies, sustained by political-economic factors, exacerbated by capacity constraints, and encoded in a complex legal framework. The consequences included significant learning, psychological, and compliance costs for citizens, which eroded public trust, while also acting as a major deterrent to formal business investment and NGO operation. A range of simplification strategies was cataloged, but a profound gap was identified between these proposals and their documented implementation and evaluation. Conclusion: The review concluded that while the negative impacts of red tape were well-articulated in the literature, there was a significant lack of empirical studies and quantitative data on effective burden-reduction strategies within the Somaliland context. This highlighted a crucial area for future primary research and evidence-based policy intervention.