Somalia: Madobe wins landslide victory in Jubaland election

KISMAYO, Somalia, August 15, 2015 (Garowe Online)-Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed Islam(Madobe) has been re-elected Jubaland President after he scored landslide first-round victory in presidential election held in the southern port city of Kismayo on Saturday, Garowe Online reports.

Madobe has been leading Jubaland for two years and half and is set to remain in the post over the next four years, parliamentary election committee has announced.

Analysts have predicted a near clean sweep in Jubaland’s first-ever election to be staged under the shadow of draft constitution.

After the first round of the encounter, vote results sans two spoiled ballots gave him resounding majority. Madobe won with 68 votes while two contenders-Hilowle Adan Mohamed and Osman Hussein Haji-came in second place with two votes each.

Right away, a judge had sworn Madobe into the office on the holy Qur’an in the presence of international dignitaries and regional observers including IGAD envoy to Somalia, Ambassador Mohamed Abdi Afey.

Timeline

Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Madobe) and General Abdullahi Sheikh Ismael (Fartag) were elected President and Vice President respectively following a month-long convention in Kismayo in May 2013.

In August 2013, UN-backed weak central government and Jubaland agreed to a deal marred by deadlocks and brokered under the auspices of IGAD in Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.

On August 1, Jubaland constituent assembly adopted new draft constitution, with 300 delegates representing Lower Jubba, Middle Juba and Gedo regions present.

On June 6, Federal Members of Parliament endorsed a controversial vote of no confidence against Jubba regional assembly.

On the same day, Jubaland broke off all ties with Mogadishu-based Federal Government and boycotted Mogadishu High level partnership forum alongside Puntland in late July

On August 4, lawmakers in Somalia’s Jubaland parliament cherry picked eight-member electoral board after turning down request by Madobe for deadline extension for presidential election date.

On August 6, parliamentary election committee set out criteria for candidates vying for offices of President and Vice President. 

GAROWE ONLINE