Saturday August 30, 2025
Las Anod (HOL) — Abdikadir Ahmed Ali Firdhiye was elected
President of Somalia’s newly formed Northeastern state on Saturday, following a
contested election in Las Anod.
Abdirisaq Khaliif Ahmed, Firdhiye’s main challenger,
withdrew from the race after Jamal Mohamed Hassan, who remained in the first
round, transferred his votes to Firdhiye. This move effectively ended Khaliif’s
hopes of advancing to the second round.
Firdhiye, the former interim leader of SSC-Khatumo, will now
lead the new administration, having previously served two years in office. His
win was widely expected, given the alliances he had formed during the campaign.
Meanwhile, the election for vice president was also held,
with Abdirashid Yusuf Jibriil, the former speaker of the Puntland Parliament,
seen as the likely winner. Jibriil, a poet and close ally of Firdhiye, was
considered a strong contender for the role.
Both Firdhiye and Jibriil were viewed as the Federal
Government’s preferred candidates, a factor that has sparked controversy among
opposition figures.
Opposition candidates have accused the Federal Government of
Somalia of violating its neutrality by actively campaigning for Firdhiye, with
some claiming that government officials have been bribing lawmakers to secure
Firdhiye’s victory.
“The government’s interference undermines the credibility
and transparency of this election and could derail the process of forming a
viable administration,” one opposition candidate told local media.
The federal government has not responded to the allegations.
The election marks the completion of efforts to build a new
administration for the Northeastern state, which has been under development in
Las Anod since July.