Mogadishu(Mogadishu24)-The U.S. Embassy in Mogadishu has extended its congratulations to Somaliland’s President-Elect Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro and the people of Somaliland for their election in November 17.

In a statement shared on X, the embassy praised Somaliland’s electoral process, calling it “a model for the region and beyond.”

The statement reads, “The United States congratulates the people of Somaliland on their recent election and President-Elect @Abdirahmanirro on his election. Somaliland’s impressive record of elections and peaceful transfers of power is a model for the region and beyond.”

The U.S. remarks follow the announcement by Somaliland’s electoral commission of the preliminary results.

Waddani Party leader Abdirahman Irro secured a landslide victory in the November 17 presidential election with 63.92% of the votes, defeating incumbent President Muse Bihi Abdi of the Kulmiye Party, who garnered 34.81%. The UCID Party received only 0.74%, losing its party status to the Kaah Association.

Mohamed Ali Abdi, also from the Waddani Party, was elected as Somaliland’s Deputy President. Over 1.2 million voters participated in the election, which will usher in a five-year term for the new leadership.