A first for Somalia as Hassan Sheikh Mohamud returns as president
Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who was Somalia’s president between 2012 and 2017, has returned to power.
It took three rounds of voting by members of Somalia’s parliament for Mr Mohamud to defeat the incumbent, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, on Sunday.
Members of the upper and lower legislative chambers picked the president in secret balloting at the Halane military camp in the capital, Mogadishu. The meeting was protected by African Union peacekeeping troops.
The first stage of voting was contested by 36 aspiring presidents, only four of whom went through to the second round.
When no single candidate won at least two thirds of the 328 ballots, voting went to a third round in which a simple majority was enough to identify the winner.
The election of Mr Mohamud ended a long-delayed electoral process that had raised political tension in the country.
Mr Mohamed’s mandate expired in February last year without a successor in place.
Mr Mohamed and Mr Mohamud sat side by side on Sunday, watching calmly as the ballots were counted.
Celebratory gunfire rang out in parts of Mogadishu when it became clear that Mr Mohamud, 66, had beaten the man who replaced him years ago.
Mr Mohamed conceded defeat and his successor was sworn in immediately. Returning to power, Mr Mohamud leads the Union for Peace and Development Party, which now commands a majority of seats in both legislative chambers.
He is well known for his work as a civic leader and promoter of education, having been a founder of Mogadishu’s Simad University.
Under Mr Mohamed, the Somali government had until today to hold the vote or risk losing international funding.
While voting was under way, Mr Mohamud – also known as Farmaajo for his love of Italian cheese – said on Twitter that it was “a great honour to lead” his country.
For Mr Mohamed and his supporters, Sunday’s loss will be disappointing.
He rose to power in 2017 as a symbol of a Somali diaspora eager to see the country prosper after years of turmoil.
Somalia is more volatile now than when he was elected, with a reported rift in the security services the constant drumbeat of Al Shabab attacks.
Analysts had predicted that Mr Mohamed would have an uphill battle to stay in power.
No sitting president has been elected to two consecutive terms in the country, in which rival clans fight intensely for political influence.
In winning the vote, however, Mr Mohamud overcame the odds, for no Somali former president had ever succeeded in returning to office.
A member of the Hawiye clan, one of Somalia’s largest, Mr Mohamud is regarded by some as a statesman with a conciliatory approach.
Many Somalis hope he will be able to unite the country after years of clan tension, but also take firm charge of a federal government with little control beyond Mogadishu.
During campaigning, Mr Mohamud promised that his government would be inclusive.
He also acknowledged the mistakes of his former administration, which was accused of corruption and seen as aloof to the concerns of rival groups.
Celebratory gunfire rang out in parts of Mogadishu when it became clear that Mohamud had won