Ex-Somalia Minister elected president of Puntland

January 8, 2019

Said Abdullahi Deni, a former minister of planning in Somalia,was on Wednesday elected President of the semi-autonomous Puntland region,

Horndiplomat-Said Abdullahi Deni, a former minister of planning in Somalia,was on Wednesday elected President of the semi-autonomous Puntland region.Horndiplomat Reports

Said Abdullahi Deni obtained the vote of 35 MPs, compared with the 31 of his rival, Abdiweli Ali Gas.

“I am very grateful for the support of my people who trusted me to run Puntland,” Said Abdilahi Deni, in his late forties, told those assembled at the parliament building.

A total of 9 candidates contested for the presidency.

The Incumbent leader of Puntland Abdiweli Mohamed Ali will fails to get enough votes to progress to 2nd round.

Elections in Puntland are unusual and unique by design – they are not based on the modern, democratic system in which every adult is entitled to a vote. Instead, they are based on clan representation. After months of meetings and back-door negotiations, clan leaders have selected 66 MPs to sit in Puntland’s House of Representatives. Each selected MP represents his sub-clan.

Puntland declared itself to be semi-autonomous from Somalia in 1998 as fighting raged through most of the country. Since then the region of about 2.5 million people has had four presidents, all selected by MPs who were in turn selected by clan elders.