Somaliland tallies votes amid social media blackout

MOGADISHU: Officials in the selfproclaimed state of Somaliland counted votes from a presidential election Tuesday, with a social media blackout expected to last several days until results are announced.

The northern territory, which declared independence from the rest of Somalia in 1991, hopes its third presidential election will bolster its democratic credentials and strengthen the case for independence from its troubled neighbor.

The counting process “may take a couple of days before it finishes and the result is announced, it can be between 16th and 18th of this month,” said election commission chairman Abdikadir Iman Warsame.

No incidents of violence, unrest or disruption were reported during the day’s voting on Monday.

Three candidates are vying for the state’s top office: Seasoned politicians Muse Bihi of the ruling Kulmiye party and opposition leaders Abdirahman Iro and Faysal Ali Warabe, who was defeated in a previous election in 2010.