Somalia: IIhan Omar welcomes re-election of Deni as Puntland president

WASHINGTON - Congresswoman Ilhan Omar has welcomed Puntland presidential results which were announced on Monday, and which saw incumbent leader Said Abdullahi Deni triumph over a host of candidates who had offered themselves for presidency.

In Monday's contest, Deni cruised to victory, scoring 45 votes out of 66 with Guled Salah, the former Transitional Puntland Elections Committee (TPEC) chair coming second with 21 votes. Deni won all three rounds of voting, regional assembly leadership said.

And on Tuesday, Ilhan Omar, a Somali-American lawmaker, welcomed the outcome of the election while fronting the region in terms of economic stability and democracy in Somalia. Puntland is the oldest federal state in Somalia.

"Congratulations to President Said Deni on your historic reelection. It’s a testament to your leadership to become the first president of Puntland to ever win reelection," Omar, who hails from the state, said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter).

"I look forward to seeing what you will accomplish in the next five years as you continue your efforts to create prosperity and stability for the incredible people of Puntland. Kudayo Puntland kudayo, Inshallah boowe guul iyo gobinimo."

Omar has been pushing for enhanced democratization in Somalia and Puntland has been a living example of strides made in terms of freedoms and economic progress. She left Somalia over 30 years ago and was elected to Congress in 2018.

Puntland elections have been also backed by members of the international community, who insisted that any dispute should be solved through known legal channels. The international partners played a major role in promoting cohesion in Puntland.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud also welcomed the results just before he left for Eritrea on Monday. The region supported indirect polls following demands by the opposition, even as Deni pushed for universal suffrage, which has been supported in various councils.