Sanaag Voters Ask: Can President Cirro Match Muse Bihi’s Development Record?
Erigavo (SLpost)- Residents and political commentators in Somaliland’s Sanaag region have renewed attention on a series of development projects implemented during the administration of former President Muse Bihi Abdi, drawing comparisons with the current government of President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi “Cirro.”
The debate, widely seen as a challenge directed at President Cirro, showcased more than 20 development projects completed or advanced across Sanaag during the early years of Bihi’s presidency.
The projects include roads, water infrastructure, public buildings, education and health facilities, sports infrastructure, security installations and development initiatives in several districts across the region.
Among the projects highlighted are the completion of the Erigavo road, improvements to the port of Maidh, including the construction of a jetty, administrative facilities and a large hangar, and major rehabilitation work at Erigavo Airport.
The list also includes the construction of a football stadium fitted with artificial turf, the expansion of Erigavo’s water supply network, the drilling of additional boreholes, new government offices, educational facilities, health infrastructure and security installations.
Other projects cited include improvements at the University of Erigavo, the construction of the regional prosecutor’s office and the Erigavo local government headquarters, the development of modern livestock-feed production and storage facilities, and the completion or expansion of several public institutions.
Development projects were also reported in the districts of El-Afwein, Gar-adag, Badhan, Dhahar and Lasqoray, as well as other communities across eastern and southern Sanaag.
The renewed focus on Bihi’s record has generated political pressure on President Cirro’s administration, particularly because Sanaag was widely regarded as one of the regions that delivered strong electoral support to the current president.
Critics of the government argue that the region’s political support should now be reflected in visible development projects and measurable improvements in public services.
They have also drawn attention to the timing of the projects, noting that a significant number were implemented during the first two years of Bihi’s administration, despite Sanaag not being considered one of his strongest political support bases at the time.
This comparison has produced a pointed political question for the current administration:
If Muse Bihi was able to deliver major development projects in Sanaag during the early years of his presidency, despite limited political support in the region, what should residents expect from President Cirro, who received broad electoral backing there?
For many citizens in the region, the issue is not simply a comparison between two administrations. It is increasingly being framed as a question of political accountability and the relationship between electoral support and government performance.
The strong support given to President Cirro was widely interpreted as a vote for change, improved public services and greater attention to the development needs of Sanaag. Residents now expect that political confidence to be translated into tangible progress in roads, water supply, healthcare, education, employment and other essential infrastructure.
The debate has also intensified scrutiny of the government’s development priorities during the early stage of its term.
Supporters of the Cirro administration may argue that government performance should be assessed over the full duration of its mandate and in the context of national economic conditions, budgetary priorities and long-term development planning. However, critics maintain that the first years of an administration provide an important indication of its capacity to convert political support into measurable results.
The comparison with Bihi’s record has therefore become more than a retrospective assessment of a former administration. It has emerged as a direct political challenge to the current government.
For residents of Sanaag, the central message is increasingly clear: electoral support should not remain a campaign statistic. It should be reflected in development projects that improve people’s lives and address the region’s long-standing infrastructure needs.
As public expectations continue to grow, President Cirro’s administration faces increasing pressure to demonstrate that the broad political support it received in Sanaag will translate into visible and lasting development.
The question now being raised by many residents is straightforward: “The people of Sanaag gave their support — when will that support be reflected in tangible development?”
Reporting by Somalilandpost News
