Somali’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud [Photo: VOA]
Leaders across the world have congratulated Somalia’s new President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud for his win in Sunday’s election.
Mohamud who served as Somalia’s president between 2012 and 2017, garnered 214 votes defeating the current president Mohamed Abudallahi Farmajo who won with 110 votes where 328 Members of Parliament (MPs) voted.
The ballot was limited to the MPs due to security concerns over holding a wider election.
The outgoing president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo has urged Somalis to support and pray for the success of the new president.
“I congratulate the president-elect, my brother, H.E Hassan Mohamud on his election as our nation’s 10th president. I urge all my fellow citizens to support & pray for his success. I would like to express my appreciation to everyone who contributed to smooth & peaceful elections,” said Farmajo.
The prime minister of neighboring Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed, said he looks forward to working with the new president on regional interests.
“I would like to congratulate former President Hassan Mohamud on being re-elected as the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia. I look forward to working closely with you on common bilateral and regional interests,” said Ahmed.
According to Somalia-born US congresswoman Ilhan Omar, the Somali people were all winners in the elections.
“The country needs all of you to work together as it moves forward from decades of instability,” she wrote on her twitter account.
Somalia’s ambassador to Somalia also congratulated President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud for his win.
Mohamud was sworn in shortly after the results were announced.
He will serve for the next four years.