Mogadishu (SD) – As the people of Somaliland flocked to the polling stations this morning, Somalia’s Deputy Prime Minister Mahdi Mohamed Guled sent a message of congratulations and best wishes to the people of Somaliland.

The Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia praised the people of Somaliland for their patience and efficiency in the development of their region and the elections in Somaliland.

“I want to congratulate the people of Somaliland on the election which begins today, May 31st. I am pleased with the patience, civility and experience of the people in holding free and fair elections in an open competition, ”said Mahdi Mohamed Guled.

Deputy Prime Minister Mahdi Mohamed Guled (Khadar) has urged the Somali people to learn from the Somaliland public and freely elect their own members of parliament.

Deputy Prime Minister Mahdi Mohamed Guled (Khadar) hails from and has previously worked in Somaliland’s electoral system.

More than one million people are going to the polls this morning and voting will take place in 3,000 polling stations in 22 constituencies.

This morning’s elections in Somaliland are being monitored by observers from more than 10 mostly African countries, including former Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma and Uganda’s presidential candidate DR. Kizza Besigye.