Somalia’s House of the People Elects Two Deputy Speakers

Mogadishu, 13 January 2017 – Hon. Abdiweli Sheikh Ibrahim Muudeey made a comeback to parliament as First Deputy Speaker of the House of the People, in Speaker in hotly contested elections held today, in Mogadishu.

Hon. Muudeey won his seat with 164 votes, after a third round of voting. His main challenger, Farah Sheikh Abdulkadir, got 93 votes. Mahad Abdalla Awad won the post of Second Deputy Speaker with 171 votes, to beat his closest challenger, Abdulkadir Sheikh Ali Baqdadi, who garnered 88 votes.

Contenders for the seats included a former minister Farah Sheikh Sheikh Abdulkadir and outgoing Second Deputy Speaker Jeylani Nur Iikar.

“I want to assure you that we will get down to work immediately,” Muudeey told parliamentarians, during his victory speech.

Two hundred and fifty-nine members of the House of the People cast ballots for the two Deputy Speakers, a day after House Speaker elections won by Prof. Jawari was held.

The elections mark the near end of Somalia’s electoral process, which began last year. Despite delays, Somalia has been commended for successfully pushing through.

“We congratulate the members of parliament upon electing their own leaders. But we are also aware and like the fact that we shall continue to secure the election process until the very end so that Somalia has a fully fledged government that is accountable to its people,” the Deputy AU Special Representative for Somalia Hon. Lydia Wanyoto said.