Galmudug State elects President, US congratulates

SOMALILAND.COM – Somalia’s Galmudug State Parliament has elected president and vice president of the State on Sunday morning in Dhuusamareeb.

Ahmed Abdi Kaariye won the first round of the presidential poll, obtaining 66 votes out of the 77 members of Parliament who were present in the session. Mr. Kaariye defeated Abdullahi Ahmed Samatar who received only nine votes.

Galmudug’s Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Nur Ga’al announced the results of the election and crowning Ahmed Kaariye Qoorqoor for the presidency of the state for the next four years.

Thereafter, parliamentarians went in to vote for the vice-presidential candidates, who were up to five candidates.

In the second round of voting, Ali Dahir Iid has won the Galmudug’s vice-presidential post after receiving 46 votes while his rival Abdiqani Sheikh Ali Diini received 31 votes.

Twelve MPs were not present at today’s session, mostly from Sufi Group, Ahlu Sunna, who boycotted the proceedings of presidential elections. The group accused of the federal government of the intervention of Galmudug politics.

United States Embassy to Somalia has congratulated the newly elected President Ahmed Abdi Kahiye (Qoor-Qoor). In a press statement, the Embassy called on Galmudug people to join into a peaceful dialogue and avoid any use of violence.

Political commentators predicted that the president to be elected from politicians leaning towards the current federal leaders in Mogadishu.

Ahmed Abdi Qoorqoor was a minister who resigned recently from the cabinet and his deputy Ali Dahir Iid was a former Villa Somalia staff.

This controversial election comes at a time when Ahlu Sunna Wal-Jamaa Group has elected their Sheekh Shaakir as a president in Dhuusamareeb and former President Ahmed Dualle Geelle crowned himself in Galkacyo, creating three parallel presidents in Somalia Central State.