Hassan Sheikh Mohamud leads the vote as the first round of polling is complete

 

The first round of voting in the Somali presidential election concluded. Incumbent President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud received 88, the most in the first round followed by former PM Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo with 72, former President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed received 49 votes while incumbent PM Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke received 37 votes.

Analysts are not surprised that these candidates advanced to the second round of voting as they have been widely pegged as front runners from the onset of the election campaign.

The third and fourth (if necessary) rounds will be watched closely as voters who’s primary choice failed will be forced to back another candidate. Many of the backroom deals that have been forged in the run-up to the election will be put to the test in these runoff elections.

To the surprise of many, HSM, a political newcomer was catapulted into Somalia top job in 2012 which affirms that anything is possible.

source hiiran