Somalia: Vote counting gets underway after Somaliland poll

HARGEISA, Somaliland - Counting of votes got underway in Somalia's northern self-declared state of Somaliland after voting polls closed Monday evening at 6 p.m. local time, Garowe Online reports.

Abdulkadir Imaan Warsame, the chairman of Somaliland Electoral Commission said the Election took place peacefully after taking measures to prevent everything that could disturb the voting process.

Warsame added that more than 700,000 people eligible to vote have cast their votes in 1,642 polling stations opened on Monday morning at around 6:00 a.m in 6 regions across Somaliland.

At least three people sustained injuries in slight incidents occurred at some polling stations, he said.

The chairman of Somaliland's Electoral Commission has thanked people for casting their votes in in largely peaceful elections, calling the Presidential candidates to pay back the voters' vivid turnout.

As polling station closed and officials counting the votes, the Electoral Commission has warned of spreading fake forecast about the election before the final result is formally announced in the days ahead.

"I can tell you that vote counting got underway in some areas after polling stations closed, the Voting has so far been peaceful and we are glad," said Sa'eed Ali Muse, a member of the Electoral Commission.

Self-declared independent state of Somaliland has announced its decision to shut down the internet service and block all social media networks on election day November 13, until the results are released.

Three candidates, including the ruling party's Muse Bihi Abdi, Abdirahman Irro of Waddani and Feysal Ali Warabe from UCID are vying for the top seat of Somaliland in the tightly contested Presidential election.

Abdi is leading by a significant margin of 30% votes of 330,000 voters in Maroodi-jeeh and Saahil regions counted after the election. GO projections showed that Kulmiye's candidate is now the frontrunner with just over 70 percent.

GAROWE ONLINE