GAROWE, Somalia Jan 6 (Garowe Online) - The election commission in Somalia's Puntland region has issued an official candidate list for politicians aspiring to hold the regional government's top two jobs, Radio Garowe reports.

A document issued by the Puntland election commission Tuesday evening stated that only the recognized candidates can compete for the positions of president and vice president on Thursday, when the 66-seat Puntland parliament votes.

There are nine candidates running for president: incumbent President Adde Muse, opposition leader Abdirahman Farole, Gen. Abdullahi Ilkajir, Omar Hashi Farja, Nuradin Adan Dirie, Adan Mohamed Gadale, Ali Abdi Awaare, and Nur Hassan Farah.

For the position of Puntland VP, there are six candidates: incumbent VP Hassan Dahir Afqura, TFG lawmaker Ali Bashi, Gen. Abdisamad Ali Shire, Saleban Isse Ahmed, Prof. Muhiyaddin Ali Yusuf, and Mohamed Haji Adan.

All the presidential candidates paid a mandatory fee in the amount of US$5,000 to the election commission, while the VP candidates paid half that amount.

Source: Garowe Online