Historic Somaliland Election: Citizens Head to Polls to Elect New Leadership

Hargeisa (Garowe Online) – In a highly anticipated election, the people of Somaliland today flocked to polling stations to cast their votes for a new president who will lead the region for the next five years. The presidential race features three major contenders: incumbent President Muse Bihi of the Kulmiye Party, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi “Cirro” of the Waddani Party, and Faisal Ali Warabe of the UCID Party.

Alongside the presidential election, a parallel vote is underway to determine the three official political parties of Somaliland. Ten political organizations are vying for the threshold of 20% of the total votes across Somaliland’s five regions. Those that achieve this will be recognized as official political parties, eligible to participate in future elections.

Voters have been provided with two separate ballots: one to choose the next president, and the other to select from the ten political organizations competing for official party status.

The election has sparked significant public interest and debate, with political predictions suggesting Abdirahman Cirro, Waddani’s candidate, as a front-runner. Cirro’s campaign has gained momentum after receiving high-profile support from Vice President Abdirahman Abdullahi Ismail “Saylici” on the final day of the campaign. This endorsement has posed a political setback for President Muse Bihi, who has led Somaliland for the past five years.

President Bihi’s tenure has been marked by a major conflict in Las Anod, Sool region, where his forces eventually withdrew following intense clashes. The election this year will not include voting in the regions of Sool, Sanaag, and Ayn, confirmed officials from Somaliland’s election commission to Garowe Online.

This election is viewed as a pivotal moment in determining the political direction of Somaliland and holds potential implications for the broader Somalia region. Initial results are expected later tonight, as observers at polling stations report tallies for both presidential candidates and political organizations.

Garowe Online