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Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre congratulated Abdiqadir Ahmed Aw-Ali, known as Firdhiye, and Abdirashid Yusuf Jibril on Saturday after their election as president and vice president of the newly formed Northeast State in Las Anod, even as opposition candidates accused the federal government of interfering in the process.
Firdhiye, the former interim leader of SSC-Khatumo, emerged victorious after rivals withdrew and lawmakers realigned their votes. Jibril, a former speaker of the Puntland Parliament and a poet close to Firdhiye, secured the deputy presidency. Both men were widely perceived as Mogadishu’s favoured candidates, a factor that fueled claims of bias.
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Several opposition figures alleged that federal officials lobbied lawmakers and offered bribes to guarantee Firdhiye’s victory. “The government’s interference undermines the credibility and transparency of this election and could derail the process of forming a viable administration,” one candidate told local media. Federal authorities have not publicly addressed the allegations.Despite the controversy, Mohamud and Barre praised the peaceful conclusion of the vote. Mohamud said the election reflected “a deep commitment to democracy and nation-building” and pledged that Mogadishu would support the new administration to complete the federalization process. Barre called the outcome “a demonstration of the people’s ability to build state institutions,” saying it was the result of years of federal investment in a modern, accountable governance system.
Lawmakers in Las Anod voted after a week of intense lobbying, with reports of hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on campaigning. Abdirisaq Khaliif Ahmed, considered Firdhiye’s strongest challenger, withdrew after Jamal Mohamed Hassan threw his support behind Firdhiye, effectively sealing his win.
The election caps a two-month effort to establish the Northeast State, rooted in the SSC-Khatumo movement that wrested control of Las Anod from Somaliland in 2023. The new administration represents a significant test of Somalia’s federal system as Mogadishu seeks to consolidate authority in regions long resistant to central control.
Mohamud urged residents and leaders of the Northeast to “strengthen unity, cooperation and dialogue” as they embark on governing the new state. Barre expressed hope that Firdhiye and Jibril would prioritize public services, peace, and the broader national interest.