Members of Somalia’s House of the People Lower House of the bicameral parliament on Thursday elected Ms Saadia Yasin Haji Samatar as its first deputy speaker.
Ms Samatar becomes the first woman to be elected to the top leadership in parliament in a largely patriarchal Somali society. In the last round of voting, Ms Samatar garnered 137 votes, beating Mr Mohamed Ali Omar alias Ananug who attained 107.
Soon after the election of Ms Samatar was announced, Villa Somalia, the State House in Mogadishu, issued a statement with President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo congratulating her for her achievement. On Wednesday, Farmajo also issued a statement congratulating Sheikh Aden Mohamed Nur alias Madobe, who was elected speaker of the 11th parliament of Somala.
The contest is expected to be tough. Incumbent President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo is expected to be challenged by strong candidates from the Coalition of the opposition Presidential Candidates that include former Al-Shabab founder Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and corrupt Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud, as well as ex-Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire, Puntland State governor warlord Said Abdullahi Deni and other former ministers.