2017 Somaliland presidential election

Background

Parliamentary elections were due originally to be held in Somaliland in September 2010, and were eventually scheduled for 26 June 2015 alongside the presidential elections, but due to the unpreparedness of the National Elections Committee the Guurti extended the incumbent's term for a period of 21 months in early September 2015.

Candidates

In November 2015 Kulmiye party chairman Muse Bihi Abdi was selected as the presidential candidate for the ruling Peace, Unity, and Development Party. Former long-time House Speaker Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, also known as Irro, was chosen as the candidate for the Waddani Party.

The candidate for the Justice and Development was Faysal Ali Warabe, who had unsuccessfully contested the two previous presidential elections. Warabe became the party's candidate after a long legal and political challenge between Warabe and the party's original presidential candidate Jamal Ali Hussein; Hussein later joined Kulmiye. Warabe's running mate was Abdi Ahmed Musa Abyan.

Conduct

Sixty international observers from over 27 countries were deployed across Somaliland to observe the elections. Seventeen of the 21 districts in Somaliland were visited by observers, with 335 of the 1,624 polling stations attended. The report by the Development Planning Unit of University College London concluded that "Throughout the election period, Somalilanders demonstrated their support for the rule of law and constitutional process, voting peacefully and in significant numbers and the mission applauds this ongoing commitment to peaceful participation in an impressively open electoral system."

Results

On 21 November the NEC announced that Muse Bihi Abdi of the ruling Kulmiye party received 55% of the vote to emerge as the winner. His closest contender was Abdirahman Irro of the Waddani party who received 41% with Faysal Ali Warabe finishing last with 4%.

By region

Aftermath

Abdi was inaugurated as president on 13 December 2017 in Hargeisa.

References

References

1. (3 August 2017). "Briefing paper: Somaliland voter cards distribution".
2. [http://www.somalilandsun.com/index.php/politics/8019-somaliland-presidential-and-parliament-elections-slated-for-march-2017- Somaliland: “Presidential and Parliament Elections Slated for March 2017] {{webarchive. link. (November 21, 2015 Somaliland Sun, 10 September 2015)
3. (17 January 2017). "Somalia: Presidential election postponed in Somaliland". Garowe Online.
4. (13 November 2017). "Voting Begins in Somaliland in Third Presidential Election Since 2003". VOA.
5. (10 December 2017). "Somaliland votes next week. Its biggest challenges come after the election.". Washington Post.
6. Maximiliano Herrera. "Electoral Calendar- world elections, US elections, presidential election, world parties". Mherrera.org.
7. Barnes, Cedric. "Somaliland's Guurti Sparks a Crisis | Crisis Group". Crisis Group.
8. (2015-09-10). "Somaliland: "Presidential and Parliament Elections Slated for March 2017". Somalilandsun.com.
9. "Somaliland:Jamal Ali Hussein is the Sole Presidential Candidate Fit to lead the Nation". Somaliland Press.
10. (2 October 2017). "NEC approves candidates ahead of November presidential elections". The National.
11. (March 2018). "The limits of consensus? Report on the Somaliland Presidential Election, 13th November 2017". The Bartlett Development Planning Unit.
12. [http://www.africanews.com/2017/11/21/somaliland-ruling-party-candidate-wins-nov-13-polls-media-reports/ Somaliland ruling party candidate wins Nov. 13 polls – media reports] Africa News, 21 November 2017