Somaliland Electoral Commission Officials parade after the being recognised for tbe award./HANDOUTSomaliland’s Electoral Commission has won the prestigious Transparent Election Award in Botswana for its credible handling of last year’s national polls.
The rare honor is reserved for electoral bodies that demonstrate exceptional integrity and professionalism.
Somaliland continues to earn praise for its tradition of open, interference-free elections in which citizens freely choose their representatives.
In a statement, the Commission said: “We are deeply honored by this award and by your recognition of Somaliland’s journey so far. Our gratitude goes to all who have stood with us — at home and abroad — including President Trump, whose close attention to Somaliland’s progress means so much to our people. With hope in our hearts, we look forward to the day Somaliland is fully embraced by the international community again. That day will be a victory for all of us.”
The 21st Annual International Electoral Award and Symposium was held in Gaborone, the capital city of Botswana, from 1–4 October 2025 — a global platform that recognizes and celebrates the world’s most distinguished electoral management bodies.
This high-level event, organized annually by the International Centre for Parliamentary Studies (ICPS) in the United Kingdom and hosted this year by the Independent Electoral Commission of Botswana (IEC–Botswana), honoured the Somaliland National Electoral Commission with the ICPS Excellence Award 2025.
This prestigious award and recognition were granted to NEC for its outstanding performance, innovation, and technical leadership in advancing modern electoral systems in the Republic of Somaliland.
The ICPS Excellence Award is one of the most prestigious global honours in the field of electoral management. It recognizes electoral bodies that demonstrate: Exceptional innovation and technical excellence,strengthening of public trust and confidence in the voting process,the establishment of robust, transparent, and sustainable democratic institutions.
Somaliland’s achievement stands as a testament to the nation’s leadership in democracy — not only within the Horn of Africa but also as a respected model across the world.
This international recognition serves as clear evidence of Somaliland’s democratic success — where, for more than three decades, the nation has peacefully and transparently conducted a constitutional referendum and ten (10) national elections that have been widely trusted and commended.
This ICPS Excellence Award 2025 further elevates Somaliland’s international profile and sends a clear message to the global community: Somaliland possesses functional, transparent, and accountable democratic institutions — worthy of international recognition and acknowledgment as a sovereign and independent state among the nations of the world.
