​Somalia: Galmudug Parliament elects new state President

ADADO, Somalia- The lawmakers of Galmudug state assembly have elected Ahmed Du'alle Geelle Haaf as the new President during a presidential ballot in Adado on Wednesday, Garowe Online reports.

According to the electoral commission of Galmudug, 89 MPs cast their votes for the state’s new President with three candidates contested for the top seat of the regional administration

Haaf, a former Federal lawmaker and well-known businessman won a hotly contested presidential election after garnering 53 votes out of 89 total votes.

He was announced to be the winner after beating his rival contender Ahmed Sharif who received 35 votes during the second round of voting. The remaining vote was declared spoiled.

Haaf became the second President of the Galmudug state, replacing Abdikarim Hussein Guled who stepped down last February due to illness.

The election comes as the international community expressed disappointment over stalled talks between Galmudug state and the moderate Islamist group Ahlu Sunn last week and urged all parties to continue the dialogue in good faith and pursue all opportunities to achieve reconciliation and prioritize the establishment of an inclusive administration in Galmudug.

The talks which was brokering the central government collapsed after both parties failed to agree on conditions for a unified Galmudug and the power-sharing modalities.

GAROWEONLINE