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66 MPs of the House of Representatives 45 votes needed to win | |||||||||||||
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The 2009 Puntland presidential election was held on 8 January 2009 in Garowe, the administrative capital of the autonomous Puntland state of Somalia. The second such vote to be held in the state since its establishment 1998, it followed the election of a new Parliament Speaker and Deputy Speakers on January 04, 2009 by the 66-seat bicameral legislature. Candidates included officials from the incumbent Puntland administration, former government ministers and prominent local entrepreneurs. The ballot saw the election of former Puntland minister of finance Abdirahman Farole as the fourth president of Puntland, majority defeating Abdullahi Ahmed Jama. Parliament of Puntland concurrently elected Abdisamad Ali Shire as Puntland's new vice president in place of Hassan Dahir Afqurac.
In January 2009 the semi-autonomous state of Puntland in Somalia witnessed a pivotal presidential election. The newly elected President, Abdirahman Mohamed Farole, assumed office amidst significant challenges, pledging to address piracy, corruption, and restore security. [1]
President Farole, a reformist figure, campaigned on promises of eliminating piracy, tackling corruption, and prioritizing security. The incumbent, President Adde Muse, faced accusations of financial mismanagement, corruption, and a deteriorating security situation. Farole's victory, securing 49 out of 66 votes, reflected widespread discontent with Muse's administration. [2]
Ahmed Saeed O'Nur, a presidential candidate, highlighted accusations of corruption against Muse, urging parliament not to re-elect him. The campaign period saw heightened political tension, but the election itself unfolded peacefully, credited to mediation by clan elders. [2]
In the presidential elections, conducted by members of the House of Representatives, a total of 66 valid votes were cast in each round. There were no abstentions or invalid votes throughout the process. [3]
Abdirahman Farole emerged as the victor, securing increasing support in each round. In the first round, he garnered 25 votes, representing 37.88% of the total. His support continued to grow in subsequent rounds, reaching 33 votes (50.00%) in the second round and ultimately 49 votes (74.24%) in the third round. [3]
His closest competitor, Abdullahi Ahmed Jama "Ilkajir" initially received 14 votes (21.21%) in the first round. However, his support dwindled slightly in the following rounds, with 18 votes (27.27%) in the second round and 17 votes (25.76%) in the third round. [3]
Other candidates, including Nuradin Adan Diriye, Mohamud Muse Hersi "Adde" Adan Mohamed Gadale, Said Mohamed Rage, Ali Abdi Aware, and Omar Ali Farjac, either maintained or lost their support throughout the rounds, with some dropping out of the race after the first or second round. [3]
Abdisamad Ali Shire was elected vice-president. [4]
Faroole, Puntland's third president, is a former banker and Puntland finance minister. He is a member of the Isse Mohamoud sub-clan of the dominant Majeerteen clan and hails from Garowe. Gen Shire originates from Taleh, Ugaadhyahan sub-clan of Dhulbahante. [5] [6]
Candidate | Party | First round | Second round | Third round | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | |||
Abdirahman Farole | Horseed | 25 | 37.88 | 33 | 50.00 | 49 | 74.24 | |
Abdullahi Ahmed Jama | Independent | 14 | 21.21 | 18 | 27.27 | 17 | 25.76 | |
Nuradin Adan Diriye | Independent | 8 | 12.12 | 11 | 16.67 | |||
Mohamud Muse Hersi | Independent | 8 | 12.12 | 4 | 6.06 | |||
Adan Mohamed Gadale | Independent | 4 | 6.06 | |||||
Said Mohamed Rage | Independent | 4 | 6.06 | |||||
Ali Abdi Aware | Independent | 3 | 4.55 | |||||
Omar Ali Farjac | Independent | 0 | 0.00 | |||||
Total | 66 | 100.00 | 66 | 100.00 | 66 | 100.00 | ||
Source: African Elections Database |
The international community, represented by U.S.-based observer Michael Weinstein, acknowledged the success of the election as a potential model for Somalia. The role of clan elders in ensuring a smooth transition was highlighted, emphasizing the capacity for Somalis to unite for a common cause.
President Farole's subsequent demand for the withdrawal of Somaliland forces from Sool region strained relations. The Somaliland Foreign Minister expressed discontent, indicating potential challenges to regional peace.
In light of Farole's reformist stance, expectations were high for concrete steps toward fulfilling campaign promises, particularly in addressing poverty, promoting economic development, and renegotiating controversial agreements, such as the mineral and oil rights deal signed in 2006.
The overall sentiment was that a responsible and stable government in Puntland under Farole's leadership could contribute significantly to the broader stability of Somalia. The need for an honest leader to navigate these complexities and foster unity remained crucial for the region's future.
Puntland, officially the Puntland State of Somalia, is a Federal Member State in northeastern Somalia. The capital city is the city of Garoowe in the Nugal region, and its leaders declared the territory an autonomous state in 1998. Puntland had a population of 4,334,633 in 2016. Geographically to the west, Puntland lays claim to the intra-46th meridian territories that were outside European colonial rule during parts of the Scramble for Africa period.
The Majeerteen is a prominent Somali sub-clan of the Harti, which falls under the Darod clan. Traditionally, they inhabit extensive territories in the Bari, Nugaal, and Mudug regions of Somalia, spanning from Bosaso to Garacad, mainly in Puntland state. Additionally, Majeerteen populations are present in southern towns such as Kismayo.
During the civilian administration that existed prior to the seizure of power by the Supreme Revolutionary Council (SRC) in 1969, there were a number of local political parties. Most notable of these early institutions was the Somali Youth League, the nation's first political organization. Upon assuming office, the Siad Barre-led SRC outlawed all extant political parties and advocated a form of scientific socialism inspired by Maoist China and the Soviet Union.
The Darod is a Somali clan. The forefather of this clan was Sheikh Abdirahman bin Isma'il al-Jabarti, more commonly known as Darod. The clan primarily settles the apex of the Horn of Africa and its peripheries, the Somali hinterlands adjacent to Oromia (Ogaden), and both sides of the Kenya–Somalia border. The Darod clan is the largest Somali clan family in the Horn of Africa.
Harti, meaning "strong man", is a Somali clan family that is the part of the Darod clan. The major sub-clans include the Majeerteen, Warsangeli, Dishiishe, Dhulbahante and while other minor sub-clans consist of Kaskiqabe, Geesaguule and Liibaangashe.
Osman Mahmoud is a Somali sub-clan and is one of the largest sub-clans within the major Majeerteen Harti confederation of Darod. The sub-clan is most renowned for its rich history within Somalia, That of which include sultanates such as the Majeerteen Sultanate and Hobyo Sultanate.
Abdirahman Mohamed Mohamoud Farole is a Somali politician. He served for many years in the government, acting as a governor of the Nugal region of Somalia in the 1990s and later as the Minister of Finance of the autonomous Puntland region in the northeast. From 8 January 2009 to 8 January 2014, Farole was also the President of Puntland. Farole's multipronged efforts at creating provisions and collaboration with international polities and organizations resulted in a drastic decrease in piracy along the Marinka Gardafuul.
GeneralAbdisamad Ali Shire was a Vice President of Puntland. From January 8, 2009, to January 8, 2014, he also served as Somali military service.
Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gaas, also more known as Abdiweli Gaas, is a Somali American economist and politician. He served as the Prime Minister of Somalia from June 2011 to October 2012, and briefly afterwards as an MP in the newly formed Federal Parliament. During his time as premier, Ali is credited with having devised the formal "Roadmap for the End of Transition", a political process that provided clear benchmarks leading toward the establishment of permanent democratic institutions in the country. On 8 January 2014, he was elected the 5th president of Puntland.
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Horseed is a political party based in Garowe, the administrative capital of the autonomous Puntland state in northeastern Somalia.
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Ali Haji Warsame is a Somali entrepreneur, accountant, and politician. He served as the first director of management at the Port of Bosaso, and later as the chief executive officer of Golis Telecom Somalia. In 2014, he was appointed the minister of education of Puntland.
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Indirect presidential elections were held in Somalia on 8 February 2017. Members of parliament elected in the autumn-2016 parliamentary election elected former Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed to the post of President of Somalia for a four-year term.
Puntland, ,, officially the Puntland State of Somalia, Arabic: ولاية أرض البنط الصومالية), is a Federal Member State in northeastern Somalia. The Administrative Capital is Garowe in the Nugal region, and its leaders declared the territory an autonomous state in 1998. Geographically to the west, Puntland lays claim to the intra-46th meridian territories that were outside European colonial rule during parts of the Scramble for Africa period.
Asad Osman AbdullahiDiano also known as Asad Diano, is a Somali politician, Major general, and former chief commander of the Puntland Security Force from 2010 to 2018. He was the runner-up presidential candidate in Puntland in 2019, defeated by Said Abdullahi Deni, and the founder of the Mideeye in 2020, which is the leading opposition party in Puntland.
The 2019 Puntland presidential election was held on 8 January 2019 in Garowe, the administrative capital of the autonomous Puntland state of Somalia. The fourth such vote to be held in the state since its establishment 1998, it followed the election of a new Parliament Speaker and Deputy Speakers on January 04, 2019 by the 66-seat bicameral legislature. Candidates included officials from the incumbent Puntland administration, former government ministers and prominent local entrepreneurs. The ballot saw the election of former somali minister of planning Said Abdullahi Deni as the sixth president of Puntland, narrowly defeating General Asad Osman Abdullahi. Parliament of Puntland concurrently elected Ahmed Elmi Osman as Puntland's new vice president in place of Abdihakim Abdullahi Haji Omar.