This archive report was first published on 22 August 2019.
On August 22, 2019, Somalia's federal state Jubbaland witnessed a significant development as Ahmed Mohamed Islam 'Madobe' was officially sworn in as its president after winning a hotly-contested election.
Madobe secured 56 votes out of 74 cast by regional legislators in Kismayu, leaving his closest challenger, Anab Mohamed Dahir, with 17 votes, while Mohamed Mohamud Omar trailed behind with just one vote.
The poll was conducted under the supervision of the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) and Jubbaland security agencies.
Madobe, who has been ruling over the Somalia state since 2013, was sworn in shortly after the electoral agency's chairman, Dr. Hamza Barre, announced his victory.
He will serve for another four years.
However, the Federal government in Mogadishu had earlier expressed concerns over the candidate selection process, stating that it violated the country's constitution and would not recognize the results of the Jubbaland Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (JIEBC).
Meanwhile, a parallel poll held by a group opposed to Madobe resulted in Abdirashid Hidig being voted as the president of Jubaland, throwing the state into political uncertainty.
UN representative in Somalia, James Swan, had earlier called on political players to refrain from violence ahead of the vote.
“Whatever the outcome in Jubbaland tomorrow (Thursday), I implore all stakeholders to show restraint, refrain from violence, and resolve grievances through dialogue,” he told the UN Security Council in New York.
