Liibaan Ahmed Hassan has been elected president of Somalia’s Galmudug state with 72 votes, defeating rival Abdirahman Abdullahi Dirie as political tensions over the country’s electoral process continue.
DHUSAMAREB (Somali Report) — Liban Ahmed Hassan was elected president of Somalia’s Galmudug state on Thursday, securing a decisive victory in a vote closely watched amid growing political tensions over the country’s electoral process.
Hassan won 72 votes against 14 for his rival, Abdirahman Abdullahi Dirie, according to the results announced after the election in Dhusamareb, the state capital.
His victory makes him the new leader of Galmudug, replacing Ahmed Abdi Kariye, widely known as Qoor Qoor, who has led the regional administration.
Hassan had campaigned extensively ahead of the vote and was widely regarded as the frontrunner, with strong backing from Villa Somalia, the seat of the federal presidency in Mogadishu.
The federal government has considerable influence over political affairs in Galmudug, one of Somalia’s federal member states, and Hassan’s expected victory had been widely anticipated before voting concluded.
The election is taking place against the backdrop of a broader dispute between President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration and opposition groups over the organisation of elections at both federal and regional levels.
Opposition leaders have criticised the government’s handling of recent electoral processes, including votes in South West state and the Banadir region, which includes Mogadishu. They have questioned the inclusiveness and legitimacy of arrangements they say have been pursued without sufficient political consensus.
The election of Galmudug’s president is therefore likely to be viewed as another test of the federal government’s ability to advance its preferred political agenda amid persistent disagreements with its opponents.
Attention was also turning to the election of Galmudug’s vice-president, with candidates Abdisatar Mohamed Geelle, representing the Sincad party, and Abdiweli Ibrahim Garyare, affiliated with the Justice and Solidarity Party (JSP), expected to compete for the position.
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Garyare was elected as the vice president of Galmudug State of Somalia. The opposition boycotted the election process, citing uniliteral and called for dialogue to resolve the dispute.
Galmudug, located in central Somalia, is one of the country’s federal member states and plays a significant role in the country’s political and security landscape.
Somalia has been grappling with a prolonged dispute over constitutional amendments, electoral arrangements and the terms of federal institutions, with the government and opposition advancing competing positions on the way forward.
The disagreements have raised concerns about the possibility of further political fragmentation if the main stakeholders fail to reach an agreement on an electoral framework acceptable to all sides.
Opposition groups have called for greater consultation and a consensual approach to elections, warning that unilateral decisions could deepen mistrust between the federal government and political rivals.
Hassan’s election is expected to shape political alignments in Galmudug as Somalia approaches a contentious period over the future of its electoral system.
The new administration will also face the challenge of maintaining political stability in a country where federal-state relations remain sensitive and the fight against Al-Shabaab continues to place pressure on security institutions.
Whether the outcome helps consolidate stability in Galmudug or intensifies existing political divisions will depend partly on how the new leadership manages relations with federal authorities, regional political actors and opposition groups.
About the Author
Ahmed Omar is a senior journalist for Somali Report, based in Mogadishu. He has two decades of experience reporting on Somalia for international and local media. He covers politics, security, governance, business, trade, economic developments and regional affairs.
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