Wednesday July 29, 2026
Hargeisa (AX) — North Western State of Somalia’s opposition Kulmiye party has chosen Mohamed Kahin Ahmed to carry its banner in the 2029 presidential election.
Mohamed Kahin secured 409 votes from the party’s Central Council members at Kulmiye’s ninth council meeting, held Tuesday in Hargeisa.
The council also selected Dr. Mohamed Mahmoud Abdillaahi Shiine, who is from the Awdal region, as the party’s vice-presidential candidate.
Muse Ibrahim Yusuf Salaf won election as chairman of Kulmiye’s Central Council, with Ahmed Mahmoud Jama named deputy chairman and Hirsi Abdillaahi Hirsi elected council secretary.
Members also approved the admission of 211 new representatives to the party’s Central Council.
Addressing the gathering after his election, Mohamed Kahin pledged to maintain efforts to secure international recognition for North Western State of Somalia while advancing development and reinforcing democracy.
“Since today the party has recognized me as the presidential candidate of the Kulmiye party in the 2029 presidential election, I will continue my efforts to gain international recognition, develop and strengthen democracy and unity of the people of North Western State of Somalia,” Mohamed Kahin said.
Several leading Kulmiye figures did not attend Tuesday’s meeting. They included former North Western State of Somalia President Muse Bihi Abdi; former party spokesperson Abdinasir Mohamed Hassan Buuni; fourth deputy chairman Mahmoud Hassan Saad Saajin; former Livestock Minister Said Sulub Mohamed; and Amb. Osman Badmaah, the former chairman of the Mideeye political party.
Reports attributed the absences to disputes over proposed changes within the party’s senior leadership, which the officials reportedly opposed.
After governing North Western State of Somalia under Muse Bihi before losing power, Kulmiye is now preparing for the territory’s next presidential race, scheduled for 2029.
