Puntland Presidential Election, 2014

The 2014 Puntland presidential election was held on 8 January 2014 in Garowe, the administrative capital of the autonomous Puntland region in northeastern Somalia. The third such vote to be held in the state since its formation in 1998, it followed the election of a new Parliament Speaker and Deputy Speakers on 4 January 2014 by the 66-seat regional legislature. Candidates included officials from the incumbent Puntland administration, former government ministers and prominent local entrepreneurs. The ballot saw the election of former prime minister of Somalia Abdiweli Mohamed Ali as the 5th president of Puntland, narrowly defeating the incumbent Abdirahman Mohamud Farole. Parliament concurrently elected Abdihakim Abdullahi Haji Omar as Puntland's new vice president in place of Abdisamad Ali Shire.

Democratization process

Registration phase

On 15 June 2009, the Puntland government passed a new regional draft constitution, representing a significant step toward the eventual introduction of a multi-party political system to the region for the first time.

On 15 April 2012, the Puntland government opened a four-day constitutional convention officially inaugurating the new state constitution. Overseen by the Puntland Electoral Commission (PEC), the constitution represented the final step in the extant regional democratization process and was scheduled to be followed by the formation of political parties.

On 28 June 2012, the Puntland's Parliament formally legalized political parties.

On 12 September 2012, the Puntland Election Commission announced that the registration process for political parties in Puntland was now open. This came after the passing of the Political Association Law, the Referendum Act, the District Elections Law and the inauguration of the state constitution. With District Council elections slated for early 2013, the three political organizations that have earned the most seats across 21 demarcated districts will then constitute the region's official parties. They will also be challengers in the next elections, scheduled for January 2014.

On 12 November 2012, Members of the Puntland State Parliament amended the Puntland Electoral Law after convening in the administrative capital of Garowe. The amendment lowers the minimum required number of votes that each political association must secure per province from 500 to 300. It also stipulates that parties should have bureaus open in all of Puntland's eight regions.

Screening phase

On 3 December 2013, President Farole nominated a seven-member Vetting and Conflict Resolution Committee and a Secretary to oversee the month's parliamentary selection process ahead of the January 2014 presidential elections. The committee is chaired by an individual from a community not competing for the President, Vice President, Speaker or Deputy Speaker positions, and includes three Traditional Elders (Aqils). It excludes members of the dissolved Transitional Puntland Electoral Commission (TPEC). The committee's term is slated to expire once the new MPs have been sworn in.

On 5 December 2013, Puntland General Said Mohamed Hirsi (Dheere) announced that the Puntland Security Force would be in charge of security during the election process. Puntland troops would be stationed at the election hall, the administrative capital of Garowe and its surroundings, as well as Puntland at large. Additionally, Puntland forces would manage security for election candidates. Presidential hopefuls would also be allowed to have their own security detail, with Puntland troops available to provide additional protection if necessary. However, no non-governmental armed trucks would be allowed in Garowe. On 19 December, the Bari region governor Abdisamad Mohamed Galan also indicated that security reinforcements had been sent to Bosaso ahead of the elections to tighten up on safety after a suicide bomber had targeted government forces earlier in the month. According to Galan, the security situation in the city was calm and under control.

On 11 December 2013, Mohamud Ahmed Hassan, spokesman for the Vetting and Conflict Resolution Committee, announced that the body had begun receiving the list of parliamentary candidates approved by the traditional elders, an admission process that would be open until the 15th. Between 15 and 25 December, the committee would then start verifying the legislative nominees' credentials, including appraising the authenticity of the candidates' nomination letters and checking to make sure that they had obtained the appropriate elders' signatures. Identification cards would subsequently be printed for the chosen lawmakers, who would be sworn in with the presidential hopefuls present. By 1 January, the new MPs in Puntland's 66-seat parliament would hold their first session, and thereafter elect a president and vice president on the 8th.

On 16 December 2013, Suldan Saed Mohamed Garase chaired a meeting in Garowe of 27 prominent clan elders from Puntland's nine regions. The gathering ended in the announcement of the formation of an Election Monitoring Committee consisting of nine traditional leaders. With Suldan Bashir Musse Konte serving as Secretary, the oversight body was formed in accordance with the area's clans and constituencies. It is mandated with supervising the ongoing electoral process to ensure a fair and credible ballot on voting day.

On 17 December 2013, incumbent President Farole met with the 17 other Puntland presidential contenders at the State House in Garowe, after having extended an invitation to engage in dialogue over the upcoming elections. The group of presidential hopefuls presented four agenda points: that the incumbent administration and the opposition candidates should jointly appoint the Vetting and Conflict Resolution Committee; that a separate Elders Committee should also be formed; that both local and international observers should preside over the ballot; and that a Terms of Reference for the Vetting Committee and the proposed Elders Committee should be agreed upon. For his part, Farole proposed that he and the other contenders should jointly sign a Candidates Code of Conduct. The meeting ended with Farole accepting all of the other candidates' suggested amendments to the electoral process, except the proposal to co-nominate the Vetting Committee. The opposition candidates had sought a change in the committee's composition under the belief that three of the body's seats had been given to individuals who had previously run for Puntland president in the 2008 regional elections. Farole rejected the proposal on the grounds that nomination of the Vetting Committee was traditionally under governmental authority, noting that the committee members had hitherto been selected by Puntland's former presidents in the 1998, 2004 and 2008 elections. Former Puntland Security Minister, Abdullahi Saed Samatar, who was acting as the opposition candidates' chairman, subsequently called on the region's traditional elders and Islamic scholars to serve as mediators in the continuing talks.

On 20 December 2013, the Puntland authorities announced that the formal mediation process between the presidential contenders had begun, with prominent traditional leaders brokering the private meetings in Garowe. According to a government official, the discussions were likely to yield a breakthrough since both sides intimated that they would be willing to put aside their differences for the greater communal good.

On 25 December 2013, General Said Mohamed Hirsi (Gen. Said Dheere) announced that the Puntland state forces had completed the first phase of the election security plan, with the commanders of the Puntland defense forces' divisions meeting in Garowe to discuss the progress made and challenges encountered. He added that all of the presidential candidates had arrived in the city, and each had been offered equal safety protocols. Additionally, Hirsi stated that he had met in private with each contender to discuss their security detail and comprehensive protection. He also indicated that investigations had been launched into a gunfire incident in the state capital, and that the outcome of the probe would be made public within 12 hours. New command centers were also reportedly slated to be set up in Garowe's neighborhoods, and security is to be tightened around the Puntland Parliament building where the presidential election is scheduled to take place.

On 25 December 2013, the opposition candidates announced via a press statement that they had agreed to work with the Vetting and Conflict Resolution committee members. Two conditions were cited: that MPs are to be chosen in consultation with the traditional leaders who founded Puntland State in 1998, and any dispute that should arise during the legislative selection process is to be entrusted to clan elders who were involved in the previous 2008 Puntland election. The opposition spokesman Ali Haji Warsame also indicated that the contenders would work closely with the election security head, Puntland defense forces General Hirsi.

On 27 December 2013, at the conclusion of a five-day religious seminar (Nadwo) hosted by the Al-Minhaj Islamic organization at the Haji Ali Mosque in Garowe, 15 prominent local Islamic scholars signed a 21-point declaration on the upcoming 2014 Puntland elections. The agreement was intended to inform prospective holders of public office about their duties and the trust conferred upon them as civil servants. Among other things, it reminded the presidential contenders that they should campaign responsibly, avoid making unrealistic or false promises, uphold Puntland's previous agreements, policies and legislations that did not contravene Islamic principles, acknowledge the election result, and aim to work in the public interest. The scholars also encouraged the Titled Elders (Issimo) to work together in accordance with their acknowledged role as an authority in Puntland, and urged the public toward piety and unity. Additionally, the declaration reminded the Vetting Committee members of their public duties, and called on the would be legislators to work for the greater good. The declaration concluded by highlighting the responsibilities that would be expected of the new leaders in the Puntland government.

On 29 December 2013, incumbent President of Puntland Abdirahman Mohamed Farole and his predecessor Mohamud Muse Hersi (Adde) met privately at the State House in Garowe to discuss the 2014 election process. Hersi subsequently announced at a joint press conference attended by Puntland Security Committee chairman Said Dheere and Nuradin Aden Dirie, senior adviser to UN Special Envoy to Somalia Ambassador Nicholas Kay, that the two presidential leaders agreed that credible elections would be held and that both averred to work with the victorious candidate. Hersi also stated that he would support the Vetting and Conflict Resolution Committee's parliamentary selections, and commended the Puntland administration, security chief Dheere and UN officials for their cooperation to strengthen security. Additionally, Farole appealed to the general public to uphold the peace, unity and solidarity in Puntland.

On 30 December 2013, the Vetting and Conflict Resolution Committee unveiled the 66 new Puntland legislators who are scheduled to select a new parliamentary speaker on 1 January 2014, as well as elect a new president on 8 January. The following day, Puntland presidential contender Ali Abdi Aware indicated in a joint press statement issued on behalf of all the opposition candidates that they were satisfied with the outcome of the parliamentary selection process. He also felicitated the new MPs on their appointment and expressed hope that they would work in the public's interest. Additionally, Aware commended the vetting committee's members for having efficiently completed their duties during the election's screening phase.

Election phase

On 1 January 2014, the 66 newly appointed legislators were officially sworn into office at a ceremony held at the Garowe parliament building, which was attended by incumbent Puntland President Abdirahman Mohamed Farole, Vice President Gen. Abdisamad Ali Shire, former Puntland President Gen. Adde Muse Hersi, opposition presidential candidates, Vetting and Conflict Resolution Committee members, Muslim scholars, traditional leaders and international community officials. Vetting committee chairman Eng. Yusuf Abshir Adami briefed the attendees about the MP selection process, stating that his panel had endeavoured to choose the lawmakers with the objective of long-term sustainability. Presidential contender Ali Abdi Aware also expressed delight at the inauguration of the new legislators, and emphasized the importance of solidarity. Additionally, Hersi stated that he had faith in the oversight committee's judgement, and appealed to the MPs to select the right individual for the presidential office. At the conclusion of the swearing-in ceremony, the new Members of Parliament appointed Ali Ahmed Osman, the most senior legislator, as the interim speaker. The MPs were then slated to vote for a new speaker and election commission members during their next meetings.

On 2 January 2014, interim speaker Ali Ahmed Osman announced that the new lawmakers had selected five MPs for the parliamentary speaker's election committee.

On 3 January 2014, the campaign trail intensified as the incumbent and opposition candidates each began holding private meetings with the newly appointed legislators in order to secure supporters. Public opinion on the best possible candidate for the presidential office also reportedly varied, as the citizenry considered the political platforms and respective experience of each contender. Several candidates likewise dropped out of the race, including prominent businessman Haji Mohamed Yasin Ismail and former Puntland Finance Minister Mohamed Ali Yusuf "Gaagaab" the day before. Additionally, the Election Security Committee led by Gen. Said Mohamed Hirsi (Said Dheere) entered the second phase of its election security plan, establishing command posts in Garowe's neighborhoods ahead of the 8 January vote.

Speakership election

On 4 January 2014, Puntland's 66 new legislators met to elect a new Parliament Speaker at a session televised live from Garowe's parliament hall by Somali Channel TV. Five candidates vied for the post, including MPs Said Hassan Shire of the Sanaag