The party tends to be supported by people from the Cidagale and Garxajis[4] and some sub-clans of the Isaaq.

[5] UCID was founded in 2001 by Somaliland politician Faysal Ali Warabe, with its program being inspired by that of the Finnish Social Democratic Party.

[6] The party has been described as the only one at a national level to adhere to a specific political ideology.

[7] Based in Hargeisa, the political party came in third place during the 2003 Somaliland presidential election, receiving 16% of the votes.

[6] In the parliamentary elections held on 29 September 2005, the party won 26.9% of the vote and 21 out of 82 seats.