Somalia’s former leader Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has been elected president after a final vote that was only open to the country’s MPs. He defeated the current president, Mohamed Abudallahi Farmajo, who has been in office since 2017. The ballot was limited to Somalia’s 328 MPs due to security concerns over holding a wider election, and one of them did not cast a vote.
Mr Mohamud received 214 votes, defeating Mr Farmajo who won 110 votes.
Three MPs are reported to have spoiled their ballots.
The unusual circumstances highlight Somalia’s security issues as well as the lack of democratic accountability. The result marks a comeback for Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who served as Somalia’s president between 2012 and 2017 before he was defeated by Mr Farmajo.
The elections – which were hotly contested and went to a third round – were delayed for almost 15 months due to infighting and security issues.
Mr Mohamud was sworn in shortly after the final results were announced, prompting supporters in the capital to cheer and fire guns into the air. He will serve for the next four years.
Credit: bbc.com
