Somalia swears in new parliament after more than a year of delay

The swearing-in of the MPs brings the country a step closer to completing a nearly two-year political standoff over the election process. The new parliament has a lot of work to do in the coming days.

News Keydmedia Online
14 April 2022

MOGADISHU, Somalia – After more than a year of delays, Somalia's much-awaited 11th parliament has been sworn in Mogadishu on Thursday shortly after a mortar attack around the capital’s airport.

Somalia's Chief Justice Bashe Yusuf has administered the oath of office to over 250 new lawmakers in the Afisyoni tent within the airport facility with the presence of PM Roble and several opposition leaders.

The swearing-in of the MPs brings the country a step closer to completing a nearly two-year political standoff over the election process. The new parliament has a lot of work to do in the coming days.

The oldest members - Abdisalam Haji (Dhabancad) and Mohamed Ali (Gagaab) both elected from Galmudug state were elected as interim speakers for both houses of the parliament to chair the first sessions to pick permanent leadership.

Speaking at the ceremony, PM Roble who is at loggerheads with outgoing president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo over the control of the country urged the assembled MPs to discharge their duties in a respectable manner and noted that the future and success of the country depended on them.

The 329-seat national assembly will elect the next president in the coming weeks in Mogadishu.

Dozens of candidates, including two former presidents Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, and PM Hassan Ali Khaire are running to become Somalia’s 10th president who, once elected sometime in the near future, will then pick a PM who in turn will form a council of ministers.

The international partners have put immense pressure on the Somali leaders to finalize the long-running election after delays with the U.S. imposed travel restrictions on unnamed figures.

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