GAROWE (Halbeeg News) – Lawmakers of Puntland state of Somalia’s northern regions have elected a new president on Tuesday in a hotly contested presidential election.
Former Federal Minister for Planning and International Cooperation Said Abdullahi Dani has been declared as the winner of the race following the conclusion of a third-round contest which was participated by two candidates.
According to the electoral committee, Dani won Puntland regional leadership race with 35 votes.
He defeated his close rival, Asad Osman Diyano, a former intelligence official, who got 31.
Dani was immediately sworn in as per the charter of the regional administration.
The president-elect who briefly addressed the lawmakers pledged he will move the state forward from where his predecessor Abdiweli Gaas left.
The former president, Abdiweli Ali Gaas has congratulated the new president and wished him good luck in his new role.
Dani was the Minister of Planning of Somalia, having been appointed to the position on 17 January 2014 by Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed.
He also ran in the 2017 race for Somali presidency.
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