KISMAYO, Somalia – President Ahmed Madobe has been re-elected following an indirect election in Kismayo on Sunday, about 500 kilometers from the capital, Mogadishu, amid tensions over his defiance of Somalia’s one-person, one-vote electoral system.
Madobe secured 55 votes in the first round, defeating his opponents, Abdi Hajin, who garnered 16 votes, and Abubakar Abdi Hassan, who received 4 votes. Both candidates were viewed as challengers to Madobe’s leadership.
Abdi Mohamed Abdirahman, the Jubaland Parliament Speaker, announced the results, confirming Madobe’s victory, which was met with cheers, applause, and chants as supporters celebrated his re-election.
Madobe was sworn in immediately afterward to lead Jubaland for the next five years. He has been in office since 2012.
Sunday’s election challenges the central government led by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, which seeks a more unified, direct electoral system across Somalia.
In his re-election speech, Madobe said he is ready to negotiate with the central government to advance the nation’s and people’s interests. He also warned against any attempts to stir hostility in the region.
Jubaland and the central government are now at odds over the indirect election. It remains uncertain whether President Mohamud will compromise, set aside tensions over Jubaland’s electoral breach, and work with Madobe moving forward.
On Saturday, Somalia’s bicameral parliament passed a new electoral law, which includes a provision (Article 82, Section 2) declaring any election not in line with the law as invalid.
This new law nullifies any results, including Madobe’s election as president of Jubaland, as the election violates Somalia’s unified electoral process.
For decades, Somalia has lacked a nationwide electoral system. Since 1969, key positions such as president, prime minister, and speaker have been filled based on clan representation.
