Galmudug lawmakers have elected Liibaan Axmed Xasan as the new leader of the administration, after he secured 72 out of the 89 votes cast in an election held in the city of Dhuusamareeb.
Liibaan, running on behalf of the Justice and Unity Party (JSP), won by a significant margin against his fellow candidates. Cabdulqaadir Cabdullaahi Diiriye, representing the Sincad organization, received 14 votes, while three ballots were declared invalid, according to the announced election results.
This victory grants Liibaan the leadership of Galmudug, coming at a time when the administration is emerging from a dispute regarding its parliamentary election process. The number of votes Liibaan received exceeds the number of parliamentary seats reportedly held by the JSP by five, indicating that he garnered support from lawmakers beyond those affiliated with his party.
This election follows a ruling by the Supreme Court of Somalia, which annulled the Galmudug parliamentary election held on July 30, citing violations of the constitution and electoral procedures. The court’s decision led to the parliamentary election being held again on September 30. The Towfiiq organization, which had filed a complaint regarding the previous election—leading to its annulment—was excluded from the re-run election.
During the final campaign session on Wednesday, candidates vying for the positions of president and vice president presented their platforms to the members of parliament, focusing on security, reconciliation, social services, infrastructure, and job creation for the youth.
