Somaliland presidential election: Voters await outcome amid ongoing push for int’l recognition
Voting has concluded in Somaliland’s presidential election, where incumbent Muse Bihi Abdi aims to secure a second term.
Somaliland, a self-declared autonomous region in East Africa that split from Somalia in 1991, held its election to select a president for the next five years, or potentially longer, depending on future parliamentary rulings.
After casting his vote on Wednesday, Bihi urged for a peaceful election, stating, “We pray to Allah to make the election take place democratically and peacefully.”
He faces familiar rivals from the last election—Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi of the Waddani National Party, who won 40 percent of the vote last time, and Faysal Ali Warabe of the Justice and Welfare Party (UCID), a seasoned candidate.
Bihi’s current term was extended by two years due to financial constraints and border security issues with Puntland. The election’s repeated delays, the third in a row, originally sparked protests, though opposition leaders did not condemn the latest delay outright.
The former British colony merged with Somalia in 1960 but declared independence in 1991 after civil conflict.
Despite Somaliland’s governance stability, its lack of international recognition remains a pressing concern for voters. The election, more than any before, underscores the region’s ongoing quest for global legitimacy.
