MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Voting took place Wednesday in Somalia’s breakaway Somaliland region in a key presidential election that has been postponed for two years and comes as the Horn of Africa region experiences political tensions.
Local media showed voters lining up to cast their ballots, with many saying they wanted a stronger economy and more jobs, among other local priorities.
More than 1 million people are expected to vote at more than 2,000 polling stations, with some 28 international observers spread across the country.
President Muse Bihi Abdi of the ruling Kulmiye party is seeking a second term after seven years in office during which he pushed for Somaliland’s international recognition.
Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi of the main opposition Waddani party campaigned on a platform of democratic reforms and social cohesion, while Faisal Ali Warabe of the Justice and Welfare Party is calling for a national unity government.
Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991 amid conflict, has maintained its own government, currency and security structures despite its lack of international recognition. Over the years, the region has built a stable political environment, which stands in stark contrast to Somalia’s ongoing struggle against insecurity.
The region’s economic problems were one of the reasons cited by the government when it announced a postponement of the 2022 presidential elections.
Somaliland’s latest deal with neighboring Ethiopia, which gives the country access to the Indian Ocean in exchange for recognition, has caused political tensions with Somalia, which accuses Ethiopia of undermining its territorial integrity.
This will be the fourth presidential election in Somaliland. The postponed presidential elections in the country have raised concerns about the stability and consistency of the electoral process.
