Story highlights Sitting President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud dropped out of the contestFarmajo's victory greeted by celebratory gunfire in parts of SomaliaMogadishu (CNN) Somalia's Parliament elected former Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, a dual US-Somali citizen, as the country's new president Wednesday. Farmajo was declared victorious after incumbent President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud dropped out of the contest following the second round of voting. Amid rising security concerns, the 328 members of Parliament met at an air force hangar in Mogadishu to cast their votes. Hassan Sheikh MohamudMohamud, who took office in 2012 , withdrew from the final ballot after losing 184 to 97 to Farmajo in the second round. Farmajo's victory was greeted by celebratory gunfire in government-controlled areas of the country.

Source: CNN February 08, 2017 17:35 UTC