Presidential elections were held in Somaliland on 26 June 2010. The elections were originally scheduled for August 2008 and numerous delays, endangered political stability in the country. On 1 July 2010, the Somaliland National Election Commission announced that opposition candidate Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud had won the elections, defeating incumbent President Dahir Riyale Kahin.

Background The elections were originally scheduled for 31 August 2008,Electoral Calendar- world elections, US elections, presidential election, world parties but the instability in the eastern Sanaag and Sool regions led the Guurti to extend the incumbent's term for a year in early April 2008, setting the election for 15 March 2009. This was heavily criticised by the opposition—in the end, a compromise led to the date of 6 April 2009, which was later changed to one week before that (29 March). On 3 March, it was announced that the elections were postponed by two more months, to be held on 31 May.

On 6 September 2009, the electoral commission announced that the election could not be held on the day planned, 27 September, due to "current political, economic and technical conditions". A new date was not announced. President Dahir Riyale Kahin subsequently asked the Guurti for yet another term extension since it would expire on 29 September, but was denied this. On 28 September however, it was reported that on a second vote, the term extension was granted, provided that the government adheres to a six-point proposal to organise the next elections.

Somaliland politicians then expected the election to be held in January 2010 at the earliest. Later, April 2010 was mentioned, but it soon became clear this date would also be missed. The elections were then expected for June 2010, as the preparations for the elections were underway. The first ballot boxes for the election arrived from Denmark on 19 April, and new voter registration cards will be issued from the second week of May. Somaliland's electoral commission backed a June election on 28 April 2010, stating the voters list had been updated and now contains 1.1 million people.

Conduct After a two-year delay, voting for the presidential elections finally took place in late June 2010. A team of international observers led by Progressio, a UK-based development agency (formerly known as the Catholic Institute for International Relations) that has long been an advocate for independence movements, described the process as "free and fair", although they noted violence in the disputed eastern Sool region that led to the death of an election official.Somaliland: Change and continuity Report by International Election Observers on the June 2010 presidential elections in Somaliland Progressio

The International Republican Institute asserted that "Somaliland’s election was peaceful, without major incident and generally met international standards. Hundreds of thousands of Somalilanders turned out to vote in their fourth election, and although wanting international recognition, did not wait to continue to build their nascent democracy. The international community should credit such democratic progress and the example it sets for others."

Results The Somaliland National Election Commission announced the results on 1 July 2010, the fiftieth anniversary of independence from Britain. They showed that Ahmed M. Mahamoud Silanyo had won the presidential election with just under 50% of the vote, defeating incumbent president Dahir Riyale Kahin, who received 33%.

By district + Legend Kulmiye victory UDUB victory # Region District KULMIYE UDUB UCID Total votes MarginVotes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % 1 Awdal Saylac 3,209 42.0% 4,256 55.6% 184 2.4% 7,649 1.4% -1,047 -13.7% 2 Awdal Lughaya 2,074 48.3% 2,080 48.4% 143 3.3% 4,297 0.8% -6 -0.1% 3 Awdal Boorame 9,218 16.4% 44,443 79.0% 2,584 4.6% 56,245 10.4% -35,225 -62.6% 4 Awdal Baki 3,951 30.1% 8,826 67.1% 370 2.8% 13,147 2.4% -4,875 -37.1% 5 Maroodi Jeex Gabiley 38,305 72.3% 12,841 24.2% 1,858 3.5% 53,004 9.8% 25,464 48.0% 6 Maroodi Jeex Hargeysa 73,884 44.7% 40,919 24.7% 50,616 30.6% 165,419 30.7% 32,965 19.9% 7 Maroodi Jeex Bali Gubadle 4,984 66.4% 1,813 24.2% 709 9.4% 7,506 1.4% 3,171 42.2% 8 Maroodi Jeex Sallaxley 999 8.9% 423 3.8% 9,800 87.3% 11,222 2.1% 576 5.1% 9 Saaxil Berbera 8,115 38.3% 11,046 52.1% 2,048 9.7% 21,209 3.9% -2,931 -13.8% 10 Saaxil Sheekh 2,433 30.4% 4,507 56.3% 1,062 13.3% 8,002 1.5% -2,074 -25.9% 11 Togdheer Burco 63,554 71.1% 16,824 18.8% 8,999 10.1% 89,377 16.6% 46,730 52.3% 12 Togdheer Oodweyne 4,940 33.9% 4,480 30.8% 5,146 35.3% 14,566 2.7% 460 3.2% 13 Togdheer Buuhoodle 7,252 94.1% 309 4.0% 149 1.9% 7,710 1.4% 6,943 90.1% 14 Sool Caynabo 13,509 80.6% 2,317 13.8% 933 5.6% 16,759 3.1% 11,192 66.8% 15 Sool Laascaanood 1,848 44.9% 1,717 41.7% 554 13.4% 4,119 0.8% 131 3.2% 16 Sool Xudun 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 17 Sanaag Gar'adag 4,131 81.8% 735 14.5% 186 3.7% 5,052 0.9% 3,396 67.2% 18 Sanaag Ceel Afweyn 9,313 66.3% 2,762 19.7% 1,971 14.0% 14,046 2.6% 6,551 46.6% 19 Sanaag Ceerigaabo 15,061 39.5% 18,849 49.5% 4,182 11.0% 38,092 7.1% -3,788 -9.9% 20 Sanaag Badhan 126 6.9% 734 40.2% 965 52.9% 1,825 0.3% -608 -33.3% 21 Sanaag Dhahar 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 0 0.0% Total 266,906 49.5% 179,881 33.4% 92,459 17.15% 538,246 100% -87,025 -16.14%Source: NEC

Aftermath After the results were announced, Kahin congratulated Silanyo and reiterated that he would step down. Silanyo was sworn in on 27 July at a ceremony.

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