Somalia President congratulates Ali Gudlawe on election win

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The President of Somalia Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo has congratulated HirShabelle state President-elect Ali Gudlawe, expressing his determination to work closely with the new administration.

“I congratulate the new President and Vice President of HirShabelle State, Mr. Ali Gudlawe Hussein, and Mr. Yusuf Ahmed Hagar on their election victory, and I hope that they will lead the people of HirShabelle to stability, security, unity, justice, and inclusive development," said Farmajo.

Somalia's southern state of HirShabelle on Wednesday picked a new leader, just a week after the former President Mohamed Abdi Ware resigned after his term came to an end, paving way for a new start ahead of much anticipated general elections in the Horn of Africa nation.

Ware, a former close ally of Villa Somalia, has announced his resignation last week, accusing the Federal Government in Mogadishu of continued interference in HirShabelle elections, in a move that attracted criticism from several members of the opposition, and other interested stakeholders in the country's fragile democracy.

His decision to quit came a month after his term of office has elapsed. The leadership of NISA - National Intelligence Agency was blamed for sending spy agents to Jowhar who became lawmakers in HirShabelle state assembly and voted for Villa Somalia-backed presidential candidate.  

The leader participated in the recent pre-election talks in Mogadishu last September that culminated in the approval of an improved clan-based electoral system, which will be in use from this months when various states elect their representatives who will decide the country's future in February presidential polls.

And on Wednesday, Ali Abdullahi Hussein alias Ali Gudlawe was elected as the new president of the regional state and sworn in to take over from Ware as part of a smooth transition. He will be required to name his new cabinet in the coming days or months.

Hussein scooped 86 votes in the hotly contested polls, beating his closest challenger Abdirahman Jim'ale who received 13 votes, of the 99 votes cast by regional legislators. He will be at the helm for the next four years as stipulated by the state's constitution.

Former governor of Hiran region Yusuf Dabaged was elected as new HirShabelle state Vice President. He scored 87 votes out of 99 regional lawmakers votes is also a hotly contested election within HirShabelle, a region prone to Al-Shabaab attacks.

His closer contender Mohamed Dhere garnered 12 votes, as per the election result. He will serve also a single term of four years before the region goes for another election, and will be the principal assistant of Hussein, who is a veteran politician from the region.

HirShabelle is one of the five federal states of Somalia which were formed after years of conflicts and its regional capital is situated in Jowhar. Other states include Jubaland, Puntland, Southwest, and Galmadug, with Mogadishu given special status as the capital city of Somalia.

Somalia will be holding elections from next month after the signing of the agreement in September. President Farmajo is keen to seek re-election but he's currently facing steep competition from among others, former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and immediate former PM Hassan Ali Khaire.

GAROWE ONLINE