Opposition’s Abdullahi wins presidential election in breakaway Somaliland

‘Irro’ took complete 60 percent of nan ballot having pledged to push efforts to summation world nickname for nan region.

Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, leader of Somaliland’s opposition, has been elected president of nan breakaway region of Somalia, according to reports.

Abdullahi – besides known arsenic Irro – of nan Waddani Party received adjacent to 64 percent of nan vote, beating nan incumbent, President Muse Bihi Abdi of nan Kulmiye Party, nan Somaliland National Electoral Commission (NEC) said connected Tuesday, according to section media and The Associated Press news agency.

Voters successful Somalia’s breakaway region cast their ballot past week successful an predetermination that was delayed for 2 years owed to deficiency of backing and different reasons.

Abdi, who was seeking a 2nd word aft 7 years successful office, trailed severely pinch astir 35 percent of nan vote.

Both candidates had campaigned promising they would resuscitate an ailing system and push efforts to summation world nickname for Somaliland.

#BREAKING: Somaliland Electoral Commission announces Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi “Irro” arsenic nan victor of nan statesmanlike predetermination pinch 63.92% of nan vote, defeating Muse Bihi, who secured 34.81%. Three governmental parties—WADANI, KULMIYE, and KAAH—emerge arsenic cardinal players successful the… pic.twitter.com/pNlbrIit5I

— GAROWE ONLINE (@GaroweOnline) November 19, 2024

Somaliland, which declared independency successful 1991 arsenic Somalia descended into conflict, has built a unchangeable governmental environment, in crisp opposition to Somalia’s information struggles.

The self-proclaimed republic sustains its ain government, rate and information structures. However, it is not recognised by immoderate state successful nan world, restricting entree to world finance and nan expertise of its six cardinal group to travel.

The authorities successful nan capital, Hargeisa, hopes to soon finalise a controversial deal that would assistance neighbouring Ethiopia oversea access. In return, Addis Ababa would supply an “in-depth assessment” of recognition.

The woody aroused fury successful Somalia, which views it arsenic a usurpation of its sovereignty, and prompted fears of conflict.

Ethiopia is simply a awesome contributor to a peacekeeping unit successful Somalia, fighting against equipped groups there. But nan statement has drawn Somalia person to Ethiopia’s humanities rivals, Egypt and Eritrea.

Somaliland is besides optimistic that nan incoming Trump management will revisit nan United States’s longstanding nickname of Mogadishu’s sovereignty complete Somaliland.

Several starring US Department of State officials who worked connected Africa argumentation during Republican leader Donald Trump’s first word person publically voiced support for recognising Somaliland.

Source

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Al Jazeera and news agencies