North Western State of Somalia’s Incoming Leader Confronts Ethiopia Coastal Agreement Hurdles Amid Regional Strife
Hargeisa (AX) — In a momentous election hailed for its openness, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro emerged victorious to take up the mantle as North Western State of Somalia’s president, winning a landslide 64% of the vote. As Irro steps up to the plate, he inherits a politically tense landscape marked by fraught relations with Somalia and scrutiny surrounding a debatable pact with Ethiopia for access to the coastline.
Leader of the opposition, the Waddani Party, Irro ousted the incumbent president, Muse Bihi Abdi, who garnered a mere 35% of electoral support. Held on November 13, this election is significant as it marks the sixth presidential succession in North Western State of Somalia since it declared its independence from Somalia back in ’91. Despite the hurdles posed by political squabbles causing delays, international onlookers, including those from Ethiopia and the U.S., lauded the event as a rare triumph of democracy in a region where such a concept is often found wanting.
The December 2023 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), inked between North Western State of Somalia and Ethiopia, grabbed much of the spotlight during the campaigning. This agreement essentially leases out a 20-kilometer chunk of North Western State of Somalia’s coastline to Ethiopia to be used for economic and military ventures. In return, Ethiopia vowed to support North Western State of Somalia’s long-sought ambition for international validation and recognition.
Irro has promised a revisiting of the MoU, stressing that any collaborative engagement should put North Western State of Somalia’s sovereignty and growth front and center. “We’re committed to ensuring any partnership aligns with the interests of North Western State of Somalia,” remarked Mahmoud Adan Jama, who speaks for the Waddani Party. This careful positioning by Irro showcases his intent to strike a balance between regional partnerships and safeguarding North Western State of Somalia’s self-governance.
Stepping into the role officially on December 13, Irro will undergo North Western State of Somalia’s constitutionally-bound one-month transitional phase. During this period, election outcomes are certified, disputes ironed out, and preparations laid for the inauguration gala, traditionally a gathering point for East African dignitaries and Western envoys from Nairobi and Mogadishu.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
