In a decisive victory, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi (Cirro), the candidate of the opposition Wadani party, has been elected as the sixth President of Somaliland, securing 63.9% of the total votes cast. The Somaliland Elections Committee announced today that Irro received more than 407,000 votes, marking a significant shift in the region’s political landscape.
The incumbent President Muse Bihi’s Kulmiye party garnered 225,000 votes, representing 34.8% of the total ballots. In a notable development, the UCID party received only 0.4% of the votes, resulting in the loss of its party status. The election has reshaped Somaliland’s political spectrum, with three parties emerging as the main political forces: Wadani, Kaah, and Kulmiye.
Political Journey
The president-elect brings extensive diplomatic and political experience to his new role. Born in Hargeisa in 1955, Irro’s career began with the Development of Somali Society organization (1978-1981). He later served in Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1981-1988) and held the position of Deputy Ambassador and Chargé d’Affaires at the Somali Embassy in Moscow, Russia (1988-1996).
Following the collapse of the Somali government in 1991, Irro relocated to Finland with his family, where he became an active member of the Somali diaspora community.
Rise to Political Prominence
Irro’s political career in Somaliland began in 2000 as one of the founding members of the UCID Party, then led by Faisal Ali Warabe. His political ascent continued with his election to the Somaliland Parliament in 2005, where he served as Speaker until 2017.
In a significant political move, Irro left the UCID Party in 2010 to establish his own political organization. His party, Wadani, achieved official recognition as a National Party following the 2012 political organizations’ elections. Under his leadership, the Wadani party has demonstrated significant growth, notably securing major victories in the 2021 Somaliland parliamentary and local council elections.
This electoral victory represents the culmination of Irro’s two-decade-long political journey in Somaliland and marks a new chapter in the region’s democratic development.
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