Tension in Mogadishu as Somali MPs try to elect house speaker

Farmajo was accused of attempting to delay the election in order to stay in power beyond his mandated term which expired in February 2021.

News Keydmedia Online
27 April 2022

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Mogadishu is set to host the election of the speaker of the parliament and his two deputies today amid tension and standoff between the PM and president.

The main roads leading to the airport have been closed with the deployment of police and ATMIS to secure the Afisyoni hangar. Several opposition MPs saw obstacles at the entrance.

The Somali prime minister Mohamed Hussein Roble has returned from a drought conference in Geneva to Mogadishu to see his eyes on the voting process of the new House leadership.

Earlier on Tuesday, his security minister, Abdullahi Mohamed Nur, said he suspended police chief General Abdi Hassan Hijar after "crossing his red line" and siding with Farmajo against the PM.

The deadlock has escalated following a parrel election in the Gedo region for disputed 16 Lower House seats. The vote was held separately in El-Wak and Garbaharey on Friday and Saturday.

Farmajo supports MPs elected in Garbaharey, his hometown while PM argues those picked in El-Wak are eligible to join the 11th Federal parliament of Somalia. This created a new poll crisis.

Prime Minister Roble ordered the African Union Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), to take full charge of the security at the Afisyoni tent after the police boss was relieved of his duties over partisan.

Farmajo was accused of attempting to delay the parliamentary leadership election in order to stay in power beyond his mandated term which expired in February 2021 without a successor in place.

KEYDMEDIA English