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Somaliland’s presidential elections have closed, with over 1 million people registered across 2,000 polling stations in the breakaway region.
The National Electoral Commission (NEC) announced that vote counting was underway, with the NEC stating that the election was peaceful.
Three candidates, including incumbent President Muse Bihi Abdi, promised to strengthen democracy, boost economic growth, and gain international recognition Somaliland has sought for 33 years. Abdi, of the ruling Peace, Unity and Development Party, was seeking a second term.
The election comes amid high tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia over a controversial memorandum of understanding signed with Somaliland.
The deal would grant Ethiopia a 50-year lease of access to 20 kilometers of the Gulf of Aden coastline in exchange for potential recognition of Somaliland’s independence. Somalia has expelled Ethiopian Ambassador Muktar Mohamed Ware and closed Ethiopia’s consulates in Somaliland and Puntland.
Somali Defense Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur reiterated the Somali government’s opposition to Ethiopian troop involvement in a new African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia.
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