Somali presidential election, 2009
Encyclopedia
An indirect presidential election was held in Somalia
on 30 January 2009. Due to the security situation in Baidoa
, it was held in Djibouti
.
on 29 December 2008, over the dismissal of the government of Prime Minister
Nur Hassan Hussein
which was not approved by the Transitional Federal Parliament
. As such, the Speaker of Parliament Adan Mohamed Nuur Madobe
shall act as interim President until the Parliament elects a new President based on the Transitional Federal Charter
within 30 days. Postponing the election until a new interim parliament, which would likely include moderate Islamist opposition, was considered, but Interim President Aden Madobe stated that a new president would be selected within the constitutionally mandated 30-day period. On 11 January 2009 African Union
Peace and Security Commissioner Ramtane Lamamra announced that the election would take place on 26 January, with preparations including nominations of candidates commencing on 20 January.
Prime Minister
Nur Hassan Hussein
announced on 15 January 2009 that he would like to become president. Other official candidates include MP Mohamed Afrah Qanyare
(an ex-Mogadishu
warlord), MP Hassan Abshir Farah (a former prime minister), Ali Mohammed Ghedi
(also a former prime minister), Ali Khalif Galaid
(another former prime minister) and Mohammed Said Hersi Morgan
(an ex-Kismayo warlord); ARS
Chairman Sharif Ahmed
also stated he was a contender for the presidency. In total, at least sixteen candidates have stated they want to become President; the PM and the ARS chairman are seen as the most likely contenders. Due to difficulties in picking the next president, the deadline was considered to be extended; despite strong pressure from the international community, the original deadline of 28 January 2009 was extended by five days, meaning the election is to be held by 2 February 2009.
As planned, the Transitional Federal Parliament
was enlarged to include 200 representatives from the Islamist opposition and 75 representatives of citizens' groups and diaspora representatives; the former group was sworn in on 27 January 2009. The 275 existing MPs voted 211 to 6 in favour with 3 abstentions to enlarging the TFP.
As the first round of voting began, several candidates withdrew, increasing the speculation that the vote would largely be a choice between Nur Hassan Hussein and Sharif Ahmed. In the first round, Sharif Ahmed got 215 votes, Maslah Mohamed Siad 60 and Nur Hassan Hussein 59; Nur Hassan Hussein then withdrew his candidacy, thus likely sealing the election of Sharif Ahmed as president. Reportedly, Ali Khalif Galaid also withdrew. All candidates except Maslah Mohamed Siad withdrew after the first round of voting; Sharif Ahmed won the run-off with 293 to 126 votes.
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
on 30 January 2009. Due to the security situation in Baidoa
Baidoa
Baidoa is a city in south-central Somalia, situated by road northwest of the capital Mogadishu. It is the capital of the Bay region, which is traditionally inhabited by the Digil and Mirifle clans....
, it was held in Djibouti
Djibouti
Djibouti , officially the Republic of Djibouti , is a country in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Eritrea in the north, Ethiopia in the west and south, and Somalia in the southeast. The remainder of the border is formed by the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden at the east...
.
Background
The election was necessitated following the resignation of President Abdullahi Yusuf AhmedAbdullahi Yusuf Ahmed
Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed is a veteran Somali politician. He is one of the founders of the Somali Salvation Democratic Front, as well as the Puntland State of Somalia, where he served as the autonomous region's first President...
on 29 December 2008, over the dismissal of the government of Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Somalia
This page contains a list of the Prime Ministers of Somalia.-Prime Ministers of Somalia :-Affiliations:*SYL - Somali Youth League*SNL - Somali National League...
Nur Hassan Hussein
Nur Hassan Hussein
Nur Hassan Hussein Adde , was the Prime Minister of Somalia from November 2007 to February 2009. He is from Mogadishu and is part of the Abgaal sub-clan of the Hawiye.-Early career:...
which was not approved by the Transitional Federal Parliament
Transitional Federal Parliament
The Transitional Federal Parliament of the Somali Republic is an interim Parliament of Somalia formed in neighboring Kenya in 2004.The Transitional Federal Parliament has 550 members representing Somalia's clans, Islamist opposition, representatives of citizens' groups and the Somali...
. As such, the Speaker of Parliament Adan Mohamed Nuur Madobe
Adan Mohamed Nuur Madobe
Adan Mohamed Nuur Madobe is a Somali politician and a former Speaker of Parliament of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia. Following the resignation of Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed as President of Somalia in December 2008, he became interim president. Like many Somali politicians, he is a...
shall act as interim President until the Parliament elects a new President based on the Transitional Federal Charter
Transitional Federal Charter of the Somali Republic
The Transitional Federal Charter of the Somali Republic, or TFC is the principle organizing document of the Somali Republic, written and approved in February 2004 in Nairobi, Kenya...
within 30 days. Postponing the election until a new interim parliament, which would likely include moderate Islamist opposition, was considered, but Interim President Aden Madobe stated that a new president would be selected within the constitutionally mandated 30-day period. On 11 January 2009 African Union
African Union
The African Union is a union consisting of 54 African states. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established on 9 July 2002, the AU was formed as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity...
Peace and Security Commissioner Ramtane Lamamra announced that the election would take place on 26 January, with preparations including nominations of candidates commencing on 20 January.
Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Somalia
This page contains a list of the Prime Ministers of Somalia.-Prime Ministers of Somalia :-Affiliations:*SYL - Somali Youth League*SNL - Somali National League...
Nur Hassan Hussein
Nur Hassan Hussein
Nur Hassan Hussein Adde , was the Prime Minister of Somalia from November 2007 to February 2009. He is from Mogadishu and is part of the Abgaal sub-clan of the Hawiye.-Early career:...
announced on 15 January 2009 that he would like to become president. Other official candidates include MP Mohamed Afrah Qanyare
Mohamed Afrah Qanyare
Mohamed Afrah Qanyare , is a Somali politician who was based to the south of Mogadishu Dayniile neighborhoods.Somali PM one of the political Flexible activity Mohamed Qanyare Afrah- United Somali Congress :...
(an ex-Mogadishu
Mogadishu
Mogadishu , popularly known as Xamar, is the largest city in Somalia and the nation's capital. Located in the coastal Benadir region on the Indian Ocean, the city has served as an important port for centuries....
warlord), MP Hassan Abshir Farah (a former prime minister), Ali Mohammed Ghedi
Ali Mohammed Ghedi
Ali Mohamed Ghedi was the Prime Minister of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia from 2004 to 2007. He was relatively unknown in political circles upon his appointment as prime minister in November 2004. He is affiliated with the Abgaal subclan of Mogadishu's Hawiye clan, one of...
(also a former prime minister), Ali Khalif Galaid
Ali Khalif Galaid
Ali Khalif Galaydh was the Prime Minister of Somalia from October 8, 2000 to October 28, 2001. Galaydh has extensive experience in public policy, diplomacy, public administration and business. He has taught these subjects at public universities in the United States.-Biography:Galaydh was born in...
(another former prime minister) and Mohammed Said Hersi Morgan
Mohammed Said Hersi Morgan
Mohammed Said Hersi Morgan was the son-in-law of Siad Barre and minister of defense of Somalia. Said Hersi Morgan is thought to be responsible for many atrocities committed against the Somali population during the Barre government and during the civil war of the 1990s in the region of Kismayu...
(an ex-Kismayo warlord); ARS
Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia
Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia is an organization created in September 2007 when Somali Islamists and opposition leaders meeting in Asmara, the capital of Eritrea, joined forces to fight the Transitional Federal Government and the occupation of Somalia by Ethiopian forces.Roughly 400...
Chairman Sharif Ahmed
Sharif Ahmed
Sharif Sheikh Ahmed is the current President of Somalia and former Commander in Chief of the Islamic Courts Union .-Biography:...
also stated he was a contender for the presidency. In total, at least sixteen candidates have stated they want to become President; the PM and the ARS chairman are seen as the most likely contenders. Due to difficulties in picking the next president, the deadline was considered to be extended; despite strong pressure from the international community, the original deadline of 28 January 2009 was extended by five days, meaning the election is to be held by 2 February 2009.
As planned, the Transitional Federal Parliament
Transitional Federal Parliament
The Transitional Federal Parliament of the Somali Republic is an interim Parliament of Somalia formed in neighboring Kenya in 2004.The Transitional Federal Parliament has 550 members representing Somalia's clans, Islamist opposition, representatives of citizens' groups and the Somali...
was enlarged to include 200 representatives from the Islamist opposition and 75 representatives of citizens' groups and diaspora representatives; the former group was sworn in on 27 January 2009. The 275 existing MPs voted 211 to 6 in favour with 3 abstentions to enlarging the TFP.
Candidates
A total of fourteen candidates formally filed to stand in the election. The candidates were:- Mohamed Osman Aden, counselor at the Somali embassy in NairobiNairobiNairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
, KenyaKenyaKenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east... - Sharif AhmedSharif AhmedSharif Sheikh Ahmed is the current President of Somalia and former Commander in Chief of the Islamic Courts Union .-Biography:...
- Mohamed Ahmed Ali, a young candidate from the Somali diasporaSomali diasporaThe Somali diaspora refers to expatriate Somalis who reside in areas of the world that have traditionally not been inhabited by their ethnic group...
in the United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. - Awad Ahmed Asharo, MP
- Yusuf Azhari, an advisor to former president Yusuf
- Ali Hashi Dhoore, a Somali businessman based in Italy
- Hassan Abshir Farah, former mayor of MogadishuMogadishuMogadishu , popularly known as Xamar, is the largest city in Somalia and the nation's capital. Located in the coastal Benadir region on the Indian Ocean, the city has served as an important port for centuries....
and PM from 2001 to 2003 - Mohamoud Mohamed GacmodhereMohamoud Mohamed GacmodhereDr. Mohamed Mohamud Guled Ga'modhere was Somalia's Interior Minister, and formerly the Minister of Public Works and Housing. His portfolio was swapped on February 7, 2007, with that of Hussein Mohamed Farah Aidid.-Biography:...
, MP and former minister, was appointed PM by then-President Ahmed YusufAhmed YusufAhmed Ali Yusuf is a Somali-born Swedish citizen who was listed on the United Nations list of individuals belonging to or associated with the al-Qaeda organisation.-Biography:...
late in 2008 before resigning a few days later - Ali Khalif GalaidAli Khalif GalaidAli Khalif Galaydh was the Prime Minister of Somalia from October 8, 2000 to October 28, 2001. Galaydh has extensive experience in public policy, diplomacy, public administration and business. He has taught these subjects at public universities in the United States.-Biography:Galaydh was born in...
, PM from 2000–2001, university professor - Abdirahman Abdi Hussein, former general and envoy to IranIranIran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
- Nur Hassan HusseinNur Hassan HusseinNur Hassan Hussein Adde , was the Prime Minister of Somalia from November 2007 to February 2009. He is from Mogadishu and is part of the Abgaal sub-clan of the Hawiye.-Early career:...
- Ahmed Hashi Mahmoud, former army officer.
- Maslah Mohamed Siad, a general and son of former president of SomaliaSomaliaSomalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
Mohamed Siad Barre - Musa Mualim Yusuf, a businessman based in Uganda, has never lived in Somalia
Results
There were three rounds of voting. There would have been less if one candidate garnered more than two thirds of the vote in an earlier round. The first round of voting reduced the field of candidates to six, the second to just two, with the winner decided in a run-off round.As the first round of voting began, several candidates withdrew, increasing the speculation that the vote would largely be a choice between Nur Hassan Hussein and Sharif Ahmed. In the first round, Sharif Ahmed got 215 votes, Maslah Mohamed Siad 60 and Nur Hassan Hussein 59; Nur Hassan Hussein then withdrew his candidacy, thus likely sealing the election of Sharif Ahmed as president. Reportedly, Ali Khalif Galaid also withdrew. All candidates except Maslah Mohamed Siad withdrew after the first round of voting; Sharif Ahmed won the run-off with 293 to 126 votes.