This archive report was first published on 23 August 2019.
On August 23, 2019, Kenya's Foreign Ministry issued a statement congratulating Somalia's Jubbaland President Ahmed Mohammed Madobe on his re-election.
Madobe, also known as Sheikh Madobe, secured a two-thirds majority in the first round of voting, winning 56 out of 74 votes cast by MPs.
Kenya's endorsement of Madobe comes despite his contentious relationship with the Somali federal government, which has disavowed the polls as 'self-appointed.'
According to the Foreign Ministry statement, Kenya was satisfied with the electoral process and thanked members of the local Legislative Assembly for conducting a peaceful poll.
Kenya's support for Madobe is part of its broader policy of forging good neighborliness and pursuing regional peace and stability.
Madobe's re-election was met with congratulatory messages from former Somali Presidents Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, as well as other regional leaders.
