2024 Jubaland presidential election explained

Country:	Jubaland
Type:	presidential
Previous Year:	2019
Next Year:	2029
Needed Votes:	38
Votes For Election:	75 MPs
Time Zone:	EAT
Candidate1:	Ahmed Mohamed Islam
President
Before Election:	Ahmed Mohamed Islam
Image1:	File:2012 11 30 AMISOM Kismayo Day3 G (8252395044) (cropped).jpg
Ongoing:	no
Candidate2:	Abubakar Omar Ali
Electoral Vote2:	16
Electoral Vote1:	55
After Election:	Ahmed Mohamed Islam

Indirect presidential elections were held in Jubaland, Somalia on 25 November. The incumbent president Ahmed Mohamed Islam was re-elected by members of the House of Representatives as the President of Jubaland for a third term. It was the third election since the state's formation in 2012. Prior to the elections, the Parliament Speaker and other Deputy Speakers were elected on 21 November, by the House of Representatives of Jubaland.

Background

See main article: Constitutional crisis in Somalia. On 31 March, Puntland withdrew its recognition of the federal government due to a constitutional crisis caused by the federal parliament's adoption of changes to a disputed provisional constitution without consulting Puntland, under which the president and government were originally elected.^[1]

On 3 November, Jubaland invited their Members of Federal Parliament from the state to come to Kismayo for discussions, after rising tensions between Jubaland and the federal government, and the resignations of the State Minister of Planning, Abdirashid Jire and a deputy minister in the Ministry of Education, the following day Jubaland cut ties to Federal Government of Somalia.^[2]

Formation of Jubaland Electoral Commission for Presidential Election

On 8 November, Jubaland's President Ahmed Madobe announced the creation of a new electoral commission to prepare for the regional presidential election.^[3]

The seven-member commission will oversee the election process. In a letter dated 9 November, President Madobe referred to the Jubaland constitution, which gives the regional state the right to create its own electoral body and hold elections without interference from the Somali federal government.^[4]

The letter pointed out Jubaland's commitment to protecting its autonomy despite pressure from the federal government. Jubaland started an independent election process, resisting attempts to use a federally appointed commission after Madobe opposed a proposed one-year extension of his term.^[5]

Candidates

• Ahmed Mohamed Islam, incumbent president
• Mohamed Abdullahi Salad, former Somali minister of ports.
• Abdi Ali Rage, former minister

Reactions

Jubaland House of Representatives Welcomed by Somali Leaders

Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, the former president of Somalia and leader of the Himilo Qaran party, has welcomed the newly elected Jubaland House of Representatives. In a press release, his party stated that the legislative and executive branches of Somalia's federal member states should be governed by their own regional constitutions, as outlined in Article 120 of the Provisional Federal Charter. He urged Somalia's federal leaders to respect the country's Constitution.^[6]

Former prime minister Hassan Ali Khaire also congratulated the new members of Jubaland’s parliament. On X, he called on them to perform their duties efficiently, improve Jubaland's laws and institutions, and focus on public interests, peace, and unity within the state.^{[7] [6]}

Puntland Parliament, the 6th Puntland House of Representatives announced their willingness to collaborate with the new members of Jubaland’s parliament.^[8]

Results

The incumbent president Ahmed Mohamed Islam re-elected by members of the House of Representatives as the President of Jubaland for a third term as he was winning 55 out of 75 votes cast by the Jubaland. For second place, Abubakar Omar Ali received 16 votes, while Faysal Mukhtar got 4 votes.^{[9] [10]}

Incidents

• On 4 November, a delegation of mediators from Kenya was led by the former IGAD Executive Secretary, Mahboub Maalim, the former IGAD Special Representative for Somalia, Mohamed Abdi Affey, and the former senator for Wajir County, Abdirahman Ali Hassan arrived in Kismayo to meet president Ahmed Madobe, after President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, requested from the Kenyan government to work towards finding a solution to the tension between Jubaland and Federal Government of Somalia.^[11]
• On 18 November, Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre said Ahmed Madobe could not run for office again because his term had ended.^[12] Abdifatah Mohamed Mukhtar, the Jubaland Minister of Information, disagreed. He told BBC Somali, "The Prime Minister should remember that he once said Jubaland had its own independent elections. Now he is saying those elections are not valid."^{[13] [14]}
• On 19 November, Mursal Siad Mohamed, the chairman of the Jubaland Electoral Commission, chaired a meeting with the traditional elders of Jubaland's tribes as they submitted the list of new members for the Third Jubaland House of Representatives.^{[15] [16]} The commission also announced the new Members of Parliament and confirmed that the election for the Speaker of the Jubaland Parliament is scheduled to take place on 21 November.^{[17] [18]} The Supreme Court of Jubaland takes an oath in the 75 newly Representatives MP's approved by the Traditional Leaders.^{[19] [20]}
• On 21 November, Abdi Mohamed Abdirahman was re-elected as Speaker for a third term and secured 65 votes. His opponent, Ismail Abdi Keerow, got 7 votes.^[21] Hirad Ismail Mohamed was elected as the First Deputy Speaker with 56 votes, while Mahad Mohamed Ahmed received 18 votes.^[22] Abdi Baley Hussein became the Second Deputy Speaker after getting 51 votes. His opponent, Abdirashid Ali Mohamud received 22 votes.^[23]
• On 23 November at least one security officer was killed and two others were injured in a gunfight between Jubaland police and security guards in Kismayo,^[24] After rival candidates backed by the federal government announced a parallel election amid a disagreement on the electoral procedure for the presidential election. ^{[25] [26]}
• Concerns about interference from Somalia's Federal Government during its elections were highlighted by the Ministry of Interior on 23 November.^[27] It accuses the Office of the Prime Minister of misusing UN and ATMIS resources for political purposes that were undermining neutrality and stability. Jubaland describes these actions as unconstitutional and calls on international partners to respect Somalia’s federal system and support fair and peaceful governance.^[28]

Notes and References

1. News: 2024-03-31 . Somalia's Puntland refuses to recognise federal government after disputed constitutional changes . 2024-11-19 . Reuters.
2. Web site: 2020-06-30 . Jubaland Leader Summons Federal MPs to Kismayo for Crisis Talks Amid Resignations . 2024-11-19 . Garowe Online . en.
3. Web site: 2024-11-10 . Jubbaland Prepares for Separate Election, President Madobe Appoints Electoral Committee . 2024-11-23 . Kaab TV . en-US.
4. Web site: Jubaland establishes electoral body to conduct elections independent of federal government . 2024-11-23 . ConstitutionNet . en.
5. Web site: 2024-11-10 . Jubbaland Prepares for Separate Election, President Madobe Appoints Electoral Committee . 2024-11-23 . hornobserver.com . English.
6. Web site: Sheekh Sharif iyo Xasan Cali Kheyre oo soo dhoweeyay xildhibaanada cusub ee Jubaland . 2024-11-20 . www.hiiraan.com.
7. Web site: Khaire . Hassan Ali . 2024-11-19 . Waxaan hambalyo u dirayaa Xildhibaannada Golaha Wakiillada ee Dowlad-Goboleedka Jubaland ee ay soo xuleen Odayaasha Dhaqanka Jubbaland. Waxaana ugu baaqayaa in ay si hufan u gutaan waajibaadkooda dastuuriga ah, kana shaqeeyaan horumarinta shuruucda iyo hay'adaha Jubbaland, ayna mudnaan siiyaan ilaalinta danta guud, iyo xoojinta nabadda iyo wadajirka bulshada Jubbaland. Dhismaha Baarlamaanka 3aad ee Jubbaland waa tallaabo loo qaaday dhanka doorashooyinka dalka oo hubanti la'aan ku jiray. Waxaana madaxda dolwad-goboleedyada Galmumug, Hirshabeelle, iyo Koonfur-Galbeed ugu baaqayaa in ay degdeg ah u qabtaan doorashooyinka oo ah xuquuq aasaasi ah oo dastuurka dalku u madaxbanneeyay dowlad-goboleedyada. . 2024-11-20 . Twitter.
8. Web site: Qoobey . Jibril . 2024-11-19 . Baarlamaanka PL Oo aqoonsaday Baarlamaanka cusub Jubaland . 2024-11-20 . Idil News . en-US.
9. Web site: Presse . AFP-Agence France . Somalia's Jubaland Leader At Odds With Mogadishu Wins Third Term . 2024-11-25 . www.barrons.com . en-US.
10. Web site: Wako . Amina . 2024-11-25 . Ahmed Madobe re-elected as Jubaland President for a third term . 2024-11-25 . The Eastleigh Voice News . en.
11. Web site: 2024-11-14 . Waa kuwama saddexda nin ee Kenya kasoo jeeda ee dhexdhexaadinaya dowladda federaalka iyo Jubaland? . 2024-11-19 . BBC News Somali . so.
12. Web site: 2020-06-30 . Somalia PM: Ahmed Madobe's Re-election Bid in Jubaland Illegal . 2024-11-19 . Garowe Online . en.
13. Web site: 2024-11-18 . Jubaland maxay ka tiri hadalkii uu ra'iisulwasaare Xamse ku dhaliilay madaxdeeda? . 2024-11-19 . BBC News Somali . so.
14. Web site: Jubaland oo si adag uga jawaabtay hadalkii Ra'iisul Wasaare Xamse . 2024-11-19 . www.hiiraan.com.
15. Web site: Guddiga Doorashada Jubaland oo lagu wareejisay liiska Xildhibaanada cusub ee Jubaland . 2024-11-19 . www.hiiraan.com.
16. Web site: Qoobey . Jibril . 2024-11-19 . Xildhibaanada cusub Ee Baarlamaanka Jubaland oo la shaaciyay . 2024-11-20 . Idil News . en-US.
17. Web site: Y . Ali . 2024-11-19 . Liiska Xildhibaanada Baarlamaanka Jubaland oo la shaaciyey . 2024-11-19 . Horseed Media . en.
18. Web site: Maxamed . Jamaal . 2024-11-19 . Liiska xildhibaannada cusub ee Jubbaland oo la shaaciyay . 2024-11-20 . Caasimadda Online . en-US.
19. Web site: Staff . Horseed . 2024-11-19 . Xildhibaanada Golaha Wakiilada Jubaland oo La Dhaariyey . 2024-11-19 . Horseed Media . en.
20. Web site: 2020-06-30 . Somalia: Jubaland's Election Rift with FGS Deepens as Mediation Efforts Stall . 2024-11-19 . Garowe Online . en.
21. Web site: Jubbaland Parliament elects leadership as federal government rejecting electoral process . 2024-11-21 . www.hiiraan.com . en-US.
22. Web site: . . 2024-11-21 . Jubaland Parliament Re-Elects Speaker And Other Deputy Speakers . 2024-11-23 . Idil News . en-US.
23. Web site: Jubaland votes for leadership as political fault lines deepen across Somalia . 2024-11-21 . www.hiiraan.com . en-US.
24. Web site: Gunfight in Kismayo leaves one dead, heightens Federal-Jubbaland tensions . 2024-11-23 . www.hiiraan.com . en-US.
25. Web site: GROUP . NTV KENYA-NATION MEDIA . NTV Kenya: Jubaland: Rival candidates announce parallel election plans . 2024-11-23 . NTV Kenya . en-GB.
26. Web site: Obala . Roselyne Obala . 2024-11-23 . Jubaland: Rival candidates announce parallel election plans . 2024-11-24 . NATION.
27. Web site: Y . Ali . 2024-11-23 . Jubaland oo digniin u dirtay Hay'addaha UN-ka iyo ATMIS . 2024-11-24 . Horseed Media . en.
28. Web site: Qoobey . Jibril . 2024-11-23 . Jubaland government has issued a press statement urging that UN and ATMIS . 2024-11-24 . Idil News . en-US.