Somaliland goes to the polls amid Ethiopia-Somalia port deal row
Al JazeeraNov 17
Somaliland Opposition Leader Wins Presidential Election
Above: Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, also known as Irro, attends a press conference on Nov. 10, 2024, ahead of the 2024 Somaliland presidential election. Image copyright: Luis Tato/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Facts
Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, also known as "Irro," the leader of the opposition Wadani Party and a former parliament speaker, has been elected president of self-governing Somaliland for the next five years. Irro is set to be sworn in on Dec. 14.
He was declared the election winner after securing 63.92% of the vote to beat incumbent Muse Bihi Abdi of the Kulmiye Party and third-placed Faisal Warabe of the Justice and Welfare Party (UCID) in a poll held last week.
The Spin
Narrative A
Once in office, the president-elect of Somaliland intends to engage in dialogue with the federal government of Somalia towards reunification — and that should come as no surprise as he announced that during his campaign. Voters in Somaliland had their say, and what they said is good news for many in Mogadishu.
Narrative B
If anything, this presidential election shows that democratic institutions in Somaliland are rock solid and further strengthen its quest for international recognition. Even if the president-elect and his party want to take a different approach, this by no means suggests that anyone in Somaliland is willing to give up independence.