By SSI Staff writer
GAROWE, Somalia- the Parliament in the Puntland state of Somalia yesterday (Thursday 08, 01, and 2008) overwhelmingly elected Dr. Abdirahman Mohamed "Farole" as president for the next four years in a hotly contested election.
The new president has won garnering 49 votes of the 66 member parliament, while his close contender, Gen. Abdullahi Ilkajir gained 17 votes. The latter was backed by Col. Abdulahli Yusuf, former Somali president who was present at the election as an observer. Yusuf, himself a former Puntland president, distanced himself from any candidate during election campaigns but it later became clear that Yusuf was favoring runner up, Abdullahi Ilkajir, another military official for the post. The eight presidential candidates presented their political proposals to the parliament on Wednesday.
The security of the capital, Garowe, was highly tightened prior to the election and security officials restricted the traffic in/out the capital, disabled telecommunications and banned the media from live coverage in response to initial fears that electoral corruption and possible allegations of vote stealing might kick off a post election violence. But in contrast to such speculations, the election took place in a very democratic way where former leaders were soundly defeated.
Dr. Farole, the first civilian president in Puntland, has been on the spotlight since the electoral arrangement had started and has been a campaigner for a real change in the semiautonomous region of Puntland. He repeatedly accused his predecessor of corruption and mismanagement of the region's wealth.
Dr. Farole, an economist, said he would form a new cabinet soon and improve the economy in face of the current global economic crisis.
The former president of Puntland, Gen. Mohamoud Hersi "Adde" had won only four votes in the second round, a strong indication to his unpopularity since he took office four years ago. Adde's administration was blamed for a rampant corruption, a growing insecurity and piracy off its shores that has now turned to global crisis.
Abdisamad Ali Shire was also elected as the vice president for the next term also defeating Adde's former vice president, Hassan Dahir Afquree.
Former Somalia president Abdullahi Yusuf has congratulated Dr. Farole on his victory and advised him to improve the current security level in Puntland region, form effective government, including those whom he defeated in the election, and called for cooperation among candidates for the sake of the region. He encouraged the candidates to accept the defeat, telling them that they still have chance to compete in the upcoming elections. He also reminded them that he had once presided over Puntland region and never intended to compete for it again. "I resigned as the president of Somalia and I am happy with that decision", Yusuf Said.
"Somalia is now in deep crisis, and if you don’t hold the various regions of Puntland together, then you may not end your term" Yusuf advised the new president
Puntland administration was formed in 1998. Col. Abdullahi Yusuf was elected as the region's first president and had a big influence in the region when he became the Interim President of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia.
The election however came at a time Somalia faces political uncertainty since Abdullahi Yusuf resigned in December, bowing to an international pressure after his consideration as an obstacle to the peace process in Somalia.
Puntland has been politically allied to the transitional government since its formation in 2004 and gave financial support at its infancy. But Yusuf's resignation has raised fears that Yusuf's region might