HARGEISA, Somalia [SMN] – The former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Somaliland was picked as parliament speaker after an election among the MPs in Hargeisa early today.
Yasin Haji Faratoon won the post after a vote by a show of hands during a house session presided over by the 1st Deputy Chairman of the Somaliland House of Representatives.
Faratoon contested against Mohamed Khadar Dahir Mooge who is also hailing from the Sool region, where Somaliland is facing local community uprising against its secssionist agenda.
MP Mooge received 35 votes from the MPs while Yasin Haji Faratoon garnered 46 votes, according to the electoral committee, which announced the results following the ballot.
As many as 81 lawmakers cast their votes in the election which was held after the resignation of ex-speaker Abdirisakh Khalif in June after denouncing LasAnod war.
Faratoon contested for the seat earlier in 2021 but lost to Abdirisaaq Khalif Ahmed. He pledged to work an end to the conflict in his region. It is unclear if he will win the move.
