Newly elected Hargeisa Mayor Yusuf Warsame Said officially took office on Sunday (January 6th) in a ceremony at the Civil Services Commission headquarters presided over by Somaliland Minister of Interior Mohamed Nur Arrale.

Outgoing Mayor Hussein Mohamed Jiir handed Said the key to the city, and Said praised his predecessor's work as mayor and pledged to prioritise infrastructure improvements in the city, the Somaliland Sun reported.

"I am ready for the hard work ahead of me. I know it is not an easy task which lies ahead of us, but my team and I shall introduce massive changes to the crumbling infrastructure of our urban centre," Said said. "I urge the good people of Hargeisa to work with us because with their co-operation, I believe we can achieve much."