Opposition leader victorious in self-declared Somaliland elections

Mogadishu, Somalia — In the self-declared Republic of Somaliland, newly-elected president Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, commonly known as Irro, called for unity as his supporters celebrated in the streets following his landslide victory over for over the incumbent president, Muse Bihi Abdi. Analysts said that the election of Irro could lead to fresh dialogue between Somaliland and the federal government of Somalia on a number of controversial issues.

Irro received 64% of the votes cast, while the Kulmiye Party, led by outgoing President Muse Bihi Abdi, garnered 34%. Following his victory, Irro expressed gratitude to those who worked to help him win.

He emphasized that everyone had won today and that no one was defeated. And he focused on unity of the people in his speech.

Irro said that this election was not about one group being defeated while another emerged victorious; rather, it was an election of brotherhood, aimed at unifying the people and fostering coexistence and development.

In Burao, the second-largest city in Somaliland, large crowds gathered at a square to celebrate Irro's landslide victory.

Among them was Hawa Elmi, a woman wearing the flag of Irro’s Wadani party.

Elmi expressed her joy, saying that after more than 30 years, her political party had finally won the presidency.

She said that she is happy that after 34 years of serious attempts at gaining power, she is finally proud to have elected a president who is loyal to both the country and its people.

Somaliland declared its independence from the rest of Somalia in 1991, following the collapse of the military government led by the late dictator Mohamed Siad Barre.

Somalia has never accepted Somaliland’s secession, nor has Somaliland received international recognition. Efforts by the international community to broker a settlement between the two have been unsuccessful.

With Irro's victory, discussions between Somalia and Somaliland may resume, according to Mohamed Husein Gaas, the founding director of the RAAD Peace Research Institute and a Research Associate at the Conflict Research Program at the London School of Economics.

He said that Irro's win presents an opportunity to reopen stalled dialogue. During his campaign, Irro expressed a willingness to initiate discussions with the Federal Government of Somalia, potentially leading to a formal agreement and reunification.

Gaas also said that Irro's election means a new hope for those who advocate for Somali unification and togetherness, adding that he believes Irro has a vision for development and is a decent leader with a long-term perspective.

Irro’s election has also been well-received in Mogadishu, where many, like Abdullahi Mohamed, a university graduate, see him as a decent leader.

Abdullahi noted that the implementation of a one-man, one-vote election in Somaliland could provide a lesson for people in the southern regions, such as Mogadishu, where residents have never voted to elect their leaders.

He said that the people in the South are pleased with Irro's election as president of the Northern region of Somaliland, believing that he is a unifying figure from whom they can learn a lot.

Somaliland has long sought international recognition since declaring independence in 1991, but no government has yet recognized its status. In its pursuit of recognition, Somaliland signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Ethiopia in January, which involves leasing a seaport in exchange for recognition. However, the Somali government has labeled this arrangement as illegal, viewing it as Ethiopia's attempt to create a rift within Somalia.