Said Abdullahi Deni

In March 2014, Mohamed and a Somali government delegation including President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Abdirahman Duale Beyle and Minister of Public Works and Reconstruction Nadifo Mohamed Osman made a four-day visit to Tokyo, where they met with Ambassador Tatsushi Terada and other senior Japanese government officials. President Mohamud and his delegation also conferred with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to discuss strengthening bilateral relations, as well as capacity training for Somali livestock and agricultural development professionals.{{Cite news|title=Somalia: Pres Hassan Sheikh – "We Are Here in Japan to Strengthen Bilateral Relations|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201403121237.html|accessdate=12 March 2014|date=12 March 2014}} The visit concluded with an announcement by Japanese Prime Minister Abe that his administration would put forth a $40 million funding package for the rehabilitation of Somalia's police forces, relief services, and job creation opportunities. Mohamud commended the Japanese government for intensifying its bilateral support, and suggested that the development initiatives would be centered on vocational training for youth and women, maritime and fisheries training, fisheries and agricultural infrastructure development, and communication and information technology support.{{Cite news|title=Japan Pledges $40m for Humanitarian Assistance to Somalia|url=http://horseedmedia.net/2014/03/13/japan-pledges-40m-humanitarian-assistance-somalia/|accessdate=14 March 2014|newspaper=Horseed Media|date=13 March 2014}}

In September 2014, the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation published a preliminary population census for Somalia. It is the first such governmental initiative in over two decades. The UNFPA assisted the Ministry in the project, which is slated to be finalized ahead of the planned plebiscite and local and national elections in 2016. According to Minister of Planning Said Deni and Deputy Prime Minister Ridwan Hirsi Mohamed, the census will facilitate the implementation of Vision 2016 and general development projects in the country. The Ministry of Planning also indicated that the preliminary census data suggests that there are around 12,360,000 residents in the nation, and that it plans to conduct a census of Somali expatriates.{{Cite news|title=SOMALIA: Gov't to launch population census ahead of 2016 elections|url=http://www.warqabad.com/somalia-govt-to-launch-population-census-ahead-of-2016-elections/|accessdate=21 September 2014|agency=RBC Radio}}

The Puntland parliament elected a new president on January 8, 2019 in a hotly contested presidential election.{{cite news |last=Olad Hassan |first=Mohamed |date=January 8, 2019 |title=Somalia's Puntland Region Elects New President |work=VOA |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/somalia-puntland-region-elects-new-president/4733694.html |access-date=August 20, 2022}}

Former Federal Minister for Planning and International Cooperation Said Abdullahi Deni and Ahmed Elmi Karash were elected as President and Vice-President of Puntland, respectively, on Tuesday.{{Cite web |date=2019-01-09 |title=Somalia: UN congratulates Puntland region's newly-elected President |url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/01/1030082 |access-date=2022-08-20 |website=UN News |language=en}}

Deni won 35 out of 66 votes from regional lawmakers in the third, and last round , defeating 20 other candidates. His closest challenger, General Asad Osman Abdullahi, former Puntland spy chief, received 31 votes.

The new president, 52, is widely known for his role in education in Puntland where he helped establish schools and universities. In 2017 he mounted an unsuccessful run for president of Somalia.

Deni campaigned on promoting economic growth and fighting corruption in the relatively peaceful Somali region.

“A new chapter has opened for this region, a chapter of unity and brotherly relations among Somalis,” the new president said.

Puntland's outgoing president, Abdiwali Mohamed Ali, lost in the first round of the election with only eight votes.{{Cite web |date=2019-01-08 |title=Waa kuma madaxweynaha cususb ee Puntland? |url=https://www.bbc.com/somali/46794927 |access-date=2022-08-20 |website=BBC News Somali |language=so}}

On January 8, 2024, Said Abdullahi Deni was re-elected as president of Puntland. He was voted in by 45 out of the 66 members of Parliament. He is the first president in Somalia to be re-elected in Somalia's nascent 64 year history.

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Category:Living people

Category:Presidents of Puntland

Category:Planning ministers of Somalia

Category:1967 births