MOGADISHU, Somalia – The Electoral Commission has announced that Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi “Irro,” leader of the opposition Waddani Party, has won the 2024 Somaliland presidential election, which took place on Wednesday, November 13.
Irro defeated incumbent President Muse Bihi of the Kulmiye Party by more than 200,000 votes, signaling growing frustration among the people of Somaliland with Bihi’s leadership, which has been criticized for legal abuses during his time in office.
Only three political parties—Waddani, Kaah, and Kulmiye—secured seats in the election, while the Ucid Party failed to win any, effectively ending its presence, the commission said.
Irro now faces a challenging road ahead as he takes on the leadership of Somaliland for the next five years. He will need to address rising inflation, a struggling economy, and ongoing tensions with Somalia, which still claims Somaliland as part of its territory—particularly following the controversial maritime deal signed between Ethiopia and Somaliland.
An international observer team, invited by Somaliland’s Election Commission, released a report on Monday evaluating the presidential election. The team, comprised of four independent U.S. citizens, praised the professionalism of the election officials and strong voter engagement, despite some challenges.
Observers noted long lines at polling stations, especially in rural areas, where many voters struggled to register. They also flagged under-age voting in Borama and delays at some stations, which sparked concerns. Additionally, there were worries about armed security inside polling places and the lack of privacy for illiterate voters who needed assistance.
Scattered unmarked ballots at some stations raised security concerns. Still, the election proceeded without major issues, and the commission was praised for its handling of the process. The team recommended making voter registration easier and strengthening safeguards to prevent fraud and under-age voting.
Despite holding its ninth election and fourth one-person, one-vote presidential race since 2003, Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but still lacks international recognition. Over the years, the region has developed a stable political environment, in stark contrast to Somalia’s ongoing security challenges.
Somaliland’s recent sea-access-for-recognition deal with Ethiopia has sparked political tension with Somalia, which accuses Ethiopia of undermining its territorial integrity. In response, Somalia excluded Ethiopia from the list of troop-contributing countries for the new AU mission set to begin in January next year and called for the full withdrawal of Ethiopian troops from its soil.
