Abdikadir Firdhiye has become the first president of Somalia’s new Northeast state, beating a string of other candidates. It was a tightly contested election in which the local legislature chose a new leader in the regional capital, Lasanod.
Firdhiye, the then leader of the SSC-Khatumo administration, the precursor administration to this new state, had governed Lasanod and nearby towns in the Sool region since clan militias expelled Somaliland forces in August 2023. On Saturday, he garnered 66 votes, with his closest challenger, former Somaliland parliament speaker Abdirizak Khalif, securing 18 votes, during the second round of voting.
The election drew five candidates but ended in a second-round runoff between Firdhiye and Khalif. Firdhiye’s victory now strengthens the Northeastern State’s alignment with Somalia’s federal government, as he is a member of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s newly formed Justice and Prosperity Party (JSP).
In his campaign, Firdhiye pledged to deepen cooperation with Mogadishu and reaffirmed his intention to reclaim Erigavo, the capital of Sanaag region, a move that could rekindle long-standing hostilities with Somaliland. Clashes between Lasanod authorities and Somaliland have already claimed thousands of lives in recent years.
His election is widely seen as a setback for both Somaliland and Puntland, which reject the establishment of the Northeastern State due to competing territorial claims. Backing from Mogadishu, however, has added another layer of complexity to negotiations between Somalia’s federal government and the two administrations.
Parliamentarians also elected Abdirashid Yusuf Jibril as Vice President of the Northeast State Administration. The results were largely anticipated, with the winning candidates receiving backing from the Somali Presidency. His rivals did not attend the proceedings.
Firdhiye assumes office at a time of heightened regional tension, with the Northeastern State’s fraught relations with Somaliland and Puntland set to shape Somalia’s broader political landscape.
The election follows heightened security measures in Lasanod, where authorities imposed a night-time curfew to ensure order during the electoral process. The vote is expected to set the political direction of the Northeast administration for the next five years and could carry implications for wider federal dynamics in Somalia.
On Friday night, security forces in the Northeast State clashed with opposition militia loyal to a disqualified candidate, leaving three fighters dead and more than a dozen injured. The group had attempted to disrupt the electoral process by seizing the venue, but were swiftly repelled. Their leader, Mohamed Jabutawi, who was barred from the race due to questions about his academic qualifications, was later arrested.
Despite the electoral commission issuing strict orders banning celebratory gunfire, the unauthorised carrying of weapons, and any activities that could undermine public order, it was the opposite as the forces loyal to the president-elect celebrated by firing in the air.
The Lasanod streets were jammed by jubilant citizens who also joined the forces to celebrate the election results.
The elections come just a week after lawmakers gathered at the same venue in Lasanod and elected the region’s first parliamentary speaker and his two deputies.
In a vote widely viewed as a milestone in the state-building journey of Northeast State, Dr Adan Abdullahi Aw-Hassan, a Somali academic, international expert, and experienced government official, secured victory with 53 votes, defeating rival candidate Abdiqafaar Dheeliye, who garnered 29 votes with one ballot being declared invalid.
Speaking exclusively with The East African, Dr Aw-Hasan said that he was happy that the event had finally taken place, describing it as “Remarkable and a landmark for such a young state to achieve the election of the Speaker of the House”.
He added that it was a tremendous achievement, which shows that the state has a good future. “Good governance is the critical factor and good institutions are critical factors determining the success and failure of nations. So we have achieved one of these today and I’m happy for that,” he said.
His take on if just two years after the conflict, if the elections were to happen, he said that he was happy that they had achieved what they had within such a short period of time.
“The future of Northeast State is bright. We have resources that are yet to be tapped; we have all types of resources. If we manage everything well, we can be like New Zealand.”
His election was welcomed by leaders across the region, among them President of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and his Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre congratulated him on his election as Speaker of Parliament.
In messages released on Saturday, the two leaders praised the smooth running of the regional parliamentary process, describing Dr Aw-Hassan’s election as a positive step towards strengthening Somalia’s federalism and deepening democratic governance.
Northeast State has officially become the sixth federal member state of Somalia, emerging from a breakaway Somaliland region, which has sought independence in vain. Other federal states include Jubbaland, Puntland, Southwest, Hirshabelle and Galmudug.
