Osman narrowly won re-election as president by a two-vote margin.

Evidence

Ali Jimale is satisfied, as it is said that he had invited people from his office to Villa Somalia (Foreign experts), being certain to be elected. The second balloting was disappointing for me: 62 for Sheikh Ali, 59 for me, but the third and last balloting had inverted the sides: 62 for me, 59 for Sheikh Ali! So I am reconfirmed President of the Republic for 6 years. — Abdi Ismail Samatar, Africa’s First Democrats, 599

Categorization

• XREF: Direct continuation of the earlier presidential electoral contest narrative from previous chapters tracking Osman vs. Sheikh Ali Jimale rivalry.
• QUESTION: Why did the second ballot show Sheikh Ali ahead 62-59 yet the third ballot invert exactly to 62-59 for Osman? What defections made this possible?