Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, leader of the Waddani Party, is poised to become Somaliland’s next president. Provisional results announced by Musa Hassan Yousuf, chairman of the electoral commission, show Abdullahi securing nearly 64% of the vote, defeating incumbent Muse Bihi Abdi, who garnered around 35%.
The race also featured perennial contender Faysal Ali Warabe of the Justice and Welfare Party (UCID), marking a repeat of the 2017 elections. This time, however, Abdullahi, known locally as Irro, achieved a decisive victory despite earlier predictions of a tightly contested election.
Irro’s campaign focused on national unity and economic revitalization. His administration will face the dual challenges of addressing the rising cost of living and stabilizing Somaliland’s eastern regions, which have experienced prolonged armed conflict over border disputes.
A central priority for the new president will be Somaliland’s quest for international recognition. The territory declared independence from Somalia in 1991, following a three-decade union after gaining independence from Britain. Despite establishing a stable and self-governing state, Somaliland has yet to achieve recognition from any nation, while Somalia continues to face instability due to al-Shabaab insurgents.
Irro inherits ongoing negotiations with Ethiopia, seeking a trade-off between port access and formal recognition. However, these discussions have stirred diplomatic tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia and drawn indirect involvement from Egypt. Ethiopia’s industry minister, Tarekgen Buluta, expressed optimism about the deal’s future, congratulating Abdullahi and emphasizing the potential of their memorandum of understanding to advance under his leadership.
Global reactions to Abdullahi’s victory have been largely positive. Ethiopia’s congratulatory message was echoed by foreign officials like Turkish parliament member Cemalettin Kani Torun, although his suggestion for reconciliation with Somalia sparked criticism. The U.S. embassy in Somalia praised Somaliland’s democratic process, calling its history of elections and peaceful transitions a model for the region and beyond.
