Title: Somaliland Multi-Level Governance: Analyzing The Interplay And Power Dynamics Between Supranational, National, Regional, And Local Governments In Policy Implementation And Service Delivery
Authors: Mustafe Mahamoud Abdillahi, PhD (c)
Volume: 9
Issue: 11
Pages: 300-314
Publication Date: 2025/11/28
Abstract:
Based on the comprehensive analysis of Somaliland's governance, this systematic literature review investigated how power dynamics between supranational, national, regional, and local actors shaped policy implementation and service delivery. The study employed a structured review of academic and grey literature from 1991-2023, guided by an adapted Multi-Level Governance (MLG) theoretical framework that incorporated concepts of hybridity and negotiated statehood. The findings revealed a system defined by negotiation rather than hierarchy. At the supranational level, engagement without recognition created a 'bypass the state' aid model. The national government in Hargeisa possessed legal authority but was constrained by financial limitations and dependence on the traditional Guurti. Regional governance was characterized by tension between appointed governors and elected councils, while local service delivery depended on hybrid partnerships between district councils, NGOs, and clan authorities. The analysis identified four key variables, legitimacy, resource control, legal authority, and coercion, that determined outcomes across these levels. The study concluded that Somaliland functioned as a resilient hybrid political order where effective governance depended on aligning multiple forms of legitimacy and resources across different levels. It challenged conventional state-building paradigms and demonstrated that stability could be achieved through non-Weberian means. The research contributed to decolonizing governance theory and offered practical lessons for policymakers and international donors operating in contexts of contested sovereignty.