The 2012 Somali presidential election

In short

The 2012 election ended Somalia's transitional period. A new Federal Parliament was set up on 20 August 2012, and on 10 September its members elected Hassan Sheikh Mohamud President. In the second round he won 190 votes to 79 for the outgoing President, Sharif Sheikh Ahmed (VOA, 10 September 2012).

The UN Secretary-General wrote that the vote was "at times characterized by reports of intimidation and undue interference to influence its outcome", but "nevertheless turned out to be the most transparent and representative election in Somalia's 20-year crisis, and the first to be held inside the country" (UN Security Council, S/2013/69, para. 2).

For how this system worked and what came after it, see elections in Somalia. For the years before, see the transitional governments, 2000–2012.

How the President was chosen

The UN account sets out the steps (S/2013/69, paras. 2 and 17–19):

• The elders. "The 275 Members of Parliament were selected by 135 traditional elders and vetted by a Technical Selection Committee."
• The Parliament. A new, "leaner" Federal Parliament was established on 20 August 2012. It chose Mohamed Osman Jawari as Speaker.
• The disputes. In the last months of the transition the signatories of the road map differed over "the selection and handling of the traditional elders", parts of the draft constitution, "the size of Parliament", the role and position of former armed faction leaders, and "the selection and vetting of members". The UN Special Representative mediated.
• Women. Women held 24 per cent of the National Constituent Assembly and 14 per cent of the Federal Parliament, short of the 30 per cent quota for both.
• Broadcast. The UN supported "the unprecedented live transmission of the proceedings of the presidential election".

The vote, 10 September 2012

• Round one. Sharif Sheikh Ahmed came first, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud second and the Prime Minister, Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, third (Al Jazeera, 11 September 2012).
• Before round two. Two candidates, including the Prime Minister, dropped out and backed Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (VOA).
• Round two. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud 190, Sharif Sheikh Ahmed 79 (VOA; Al Jazeera).
• Concession. Sharif Sheikh Ahmed "conceded defeat after the vote and promised to work with the new government" (VOA).

Bribery claims

Al Jazeera's correspondent in Mogadishu, Nazanine Moshiri, reported: "They have told me that there is bribery going on all sides", with sums "ranging from what I have been told is $10,000 to $50,000". A diplomatic source told her that "if MPs don't vote with their conscience, this will continue the orgy of corruption". The president's office called the claims "baseless and not true" (Al Jazeera, 11 September 2012).

The new government

• 12 September 2012. Suicide attackers struck the Jazeera Hotel in Mogadishu "while President Mohamud was present" (S/2013/69, para. 11).
• 6 October. The President named Abdi Farah Shirdon "Saacid" as Prime Minister. Parliament endorsed him, and on 13 November it endorsed his 10-member cabinet, which included two women (same source, para. 3).
• Programme. The President set out a "six-pillar policy framework" and a "bottom-up" approach in which local administrations would be formed first (same source, para. 4).

Who suffered?

• People at the Jazeera Hotel, in the suicide attack of 12 September 2012 (S/2013/69).
• Women seeking office, who won 14 per cent of the seats against a 30 per cent quota (S/2013/69).

Sources differ

• How clean the vote was. The UN called it the most transparent and representative election of the crisis while noting reports of intimidation. Al Jazeera's sources reported bribery "on all sides". The president's office denied any wrongdoing.

Read the primary sources yourself

• UN Secretary-General, report on Somalia, S/2013/69 (31 January 2013): PDF.
• VOA, "Somalia Elects a New President", 10 September 2012: article.
• Al Jazeera, "Somali MPs elect Hassan Sheikh as president", 11 September 2012: article.