Somalia’s Hirshabelle State Parliament has re-elected Abdihakim Luqman Haji Mohamed as its speaker, securing continuity in the legislature’s leadership just days before lawmakers are due to elect the state’s next president and vice president.
Abdihakim received 77 votes in Thursday evening’s election in Jowhar, retaining the position he has held since November 4, 2020. His re-election comes as Hirshabelle enters a critical political period following the swearing-in of a new parliament whose members were elected through a one-person, one-vote system for the first time in the state’s history.
The speakership vote is an important step in establishing the leadership of the new 99-member House of Representatives ahead of Saturday’s scheduled presidential election on October 24.
Alongside Abdihakim’s re-election, lawmakers chose Abdirahman Abdi Iidow as first deputy speaker and Jama Ali Mohamud as second deputy speaker. Neither candidate faced a challenger, as each was the sole registered contender for the respective position.
Hirshabelle Parliament Completes Leadership Elections
The election of the speaker and deputies follows the swearing-in of the new parliament in Jowhar on October 20. The 99 lawmakers took their oaths after being elected in the September 30 poll, which marked a shift towards direct elections in Hirshabelle.
Abdihakim’s retention of the speakership means he will continue leading the House as it prepares for the next stage of the state’s political transition.
Before entering parliament, Abdihakim worked at the Somali Embassy in Sudan. He has led the Hirshabelle House of Representatives since November 2020, giving him experience in the legislature ahead of the new assembly’s work.
The selection of the two deputy speakers also completes the key parliamentary leadership positions as the state prepares for the election of its executive leadership.
The next major political event in Hirshabelle is the election of the state president and vice president, scheduled for Saturday, October 24.
The vote will determine the leadership of the administration following the formation of the new parliament. The process comes after the September 30 legislative election, in which the Justice and Solidarity Party (JSP), led by Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, won 78 of the 99 seats.
The party’s parliamentary majority gives it a substantial presence in the new House, although the outcome of the presidential election will depend on the voting process and the candidates contesting the positions.