Thursday July 25, 2024
A woman casts her ballot in the historic one-person-one-vote elections in Puntland’s Nugaal region, marking a significant milestone in the region's democratic process.
Garowe (HOL) — The United Nations has congratulated Puntland's people on peacefully conducting one-person, one-vote elections in the Nugaal region's Garowe, Dangoroyo, and Godobjiraan districts. The milestone marks Puntland as the first regional state in Somalia to hold such elections for local government councils.
"The UN in Somalia congratulates the people of Puntland for the peaceful conduct of 'one person, one vote' elections in the Nugaal region's Garowe, Dangoroyo, and Godobjiran districts. Puntland's experience with direct elections can inform the expansion of inclusive democratic participation across #Somalia, at all levels of government," UNSOM stated on Twitter.
The elections were initially scheduled for the previous year but were postponed due to significant security concerns and political disputes. Allegations of election materials being seized and destroyed, along with accusations against President Said Abdullahi Deni for governance and security failures, contributed to the delays. Opposition groups claimed that Deni's political maneuvers, such as diverting funds for campaigns and unlawfully amending the constitution, exacerbated community divisions and conflicts.
Despite these challenges, the political situation has improved since President Deni's re-election. Tuesday's vote was the first time residents in these districts participated in a one-person-one-vote election, marking a major moment in Puntland's democratic journey.
Preliminary results announced by the Puntland Election Commission reveal a close race between major parties. In Garowe, the Kaah party, led by President Deni, secured 12 out of 33 seats, followed by the Horseed party with six seats and the Sincad party with five. Nine seats were won by women, underscoring significant female representation.
The competition remains tight in Godob Jiiraan and Dangoroyo, with Kaah, Horseed, and Sincad parties receiving nearly equal votes. Kaah's majority in Garowe positions it to potentially secure the mayoralty, though alliances with other parties may be necessary to strengthen its position.
These elections signify Puntland's move beyond the clan-based system previously used to select local council members. The completion of this election process took over 20 years, with previous attempts hindered by security challenges.
The final results are expected to be announced by the regional electoral commission in the coming days.