Deni to drop out of Somalia’s presidential race as hope fades

Deni's slim plan, however, is to back either former President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud or Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame, whoever comes forward in the second round of the voting, to get the PM post.

News Keydmedia Online
10 May 2022

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Puntland state leader Said Abdullahi Deni who declared recently his candidacy for Somalia’s presidency is in despair, having suffered a setback in his bid for the top seat.

Credible sources revealed to the Keydmedia Somali service that Deni's hope has sharply plummeted in the past days after more Puntland and Jubaland MPs abandoned his side and shifted to other candidates.

This raised concerns that Deni who is now running his campaign in Mogadishu will lose in the first round of the May 15 election due to the lack of support from majority Jubaland and Puntland lawmakers.

This week, Deni has requested nearly 100 parliamentarians to attend a special meeting at his hotel in Mogadishu airport but, according to the sources, One-third of the MPs did not respond to the invitation.

Jubaland state legislators are reportedly angry that two candidates from Puntland have won the post of deputy speakers of the lower and upper houses of the Federal parliament in last month’s election.

KON sources added that Jubaland wanted the post of 2nd Deputy Speaker of the Senate, which was contested by Senator Fartaag, but he lost to former Puntland Information Minister Tima-Ade.

Deni has postponed registering his candidacy in the past two days after seeing his hope was dashing.

Deni's slim plan, however, is to back either former President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud or Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame, whoever comes forward in the second round of the voting, to get the PM post.

With just five days to go to the presidential election, at least 32 candidates have registered to vie for the country's top post. The candidates include incumbent Farmajo who will face ex-leaders and PM Khaire.

KEYDMEDIA English