Somalia: Puntland MPs elect new speaker

GAROWE, Somalia, November 9, 2015 (Garowe Online)-Lawmakers in Somalia’s Puntland parliament have voted in tough election that brought together three candidates under tight security on Monday morning, Garowe online reports.

Three MPs-Abdihakin Mohamed Ahmed, Ahmed Ali Hashi and Saed Samatar Surad-have vied for the top political post following the resignation of former parliament speaker, Saed Hassan Shire on October 28.

The 66-seat-chamber members have cast their votes in transparent ballot boxes in accordance with the bylaws set by parliamentary sub-committee on election.

The candidates first off delivered key speeches in parliament, with each MP, except for Hashi pledging that he will come up with very transparency and better efficiency if elected as speaker.

In the first round of voting, Ahmed Ali Hashi failed to gain the required two thirds majority and instead secured 40 votes of the 64 cast, followed by Abdihakin Mohamed Ahmed, 19 and MP Saed Samatar has come third with 3 votes, meaning Hashi was four votes shy of first-round landslide victory.

Hashi and Ahmed proceeded to the second round of voting in what appeared ‘nech-and-neck’ encounter which was televised live from the state capital of Garowe by UK-based Somali channels.

Ahmed Ali Hashi, a close ally of Puntland President, Abdiweli Mohamed Ali won by 41 votes in the next tallying in the midst of reports of vote buying.

The vote battle intensified over the last 24 hours after credible observers said, some MPs were wooed with cash amounting to as much USD 5000.00 to vote in favor of former Parliament speaker, Hashi.

GAROWE ONLINE