New Galmudug parliament sworn in ahead of leadership elections

Dhusamareb (HOL) — Newly elected members of Galmudug State’s Parliament were sworn in Friday in Dhusamareb town ahead of elections for parliamentary and regional leadership.

Mohamed Sheikh Ahmed, the oldest member of the new parliament, will serve as interim speaker until lawmakers elect permanent parliamentary leaders.

The new parliament was elected Sept. 30 in a repeat vote ordered after Somalia’s Supreme Court annulled the July 30 election results over failures to comply with constitutional and electoral procedures.

The repeat election delivered a substantial parliamentary majority to the Justice and Unity Party (JSP), which secured 67 of the assembly’s 89 seats, according to the electoral commission.

The party has nominated Liban Ahmed Hassan as its candidate for the Galmudug presidency.

However, the electoral process has faced criticism over the exclusion of the Towfiiq political organization, which had filed the legal challenge that led to the annulment of the earlier election.

Towfiiq has protested its exclusion from the rerun, questioning the fairness and transparency of the process.

The controversy has raised concerns among critics over political participation and competition in the regional elections.

With the swearing-in completed, lawmakers are expected to elect the parliamentary leadership Sunday before proceeding to the presidential and vice presidential elections next Thursday.

The leadership elections will determine the composition of Galmudug’s new administration following a disputed electoral process that has drawn scrutiny from political stakeholders.