Somaliland goes to the polls amid Ethiopia-Somalia port deal row
Al JazeeraNov 04, 2024
Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, also known as "Irro," the leader of the opposition Wadani Party and a former parliament speaker, has been elected president of self-governing Somaliland for the next five years. Irro is set to be sworn in on Dec. 14.
He was declared the election winner after securing 63.92% of the vote to beat incumbent Muse Bihi Abdi of the Kulmiye Party and third-placed Faisal Warabe of the UCID in a poll held last week.He was declared the election winner after securing 63.92% of the vote to beat incumbent Muse Bihi Abdi of the Kulmiye Party and third-placed Faisal Warabe of the Justice and Welfare Party (UCID) in a poll held last week.
On Wednesday, Bihi conceded defeat to Irro and pledged to ensure a peaceful transition of power. He further thanked his supporters and urged them to accept the outcome of the presidential election.
Once in office, the president-elect of Somaliland intends to engage in dialogue with the federal government of Somalia towards reunification — and that should come as no surprise as he announced that during his campaign. Voters in Somaliland had their say, and what they said reallyis pleasesgood news for many in Mogadishu.
If anything, this presidential election shows that democratic institutions in Somaliland are rock solid and further strengthensstrengthen its quest for international recognition. Even if the president-elect and his party want to take a different approach, this by no means suggestsuggests that anyone in Somaliland is willing to give up independence.