Former state minister elected as Galmudug parliament speaker

DHUSAMAREB, Somalia - Mohamed Nur Ga'al, was on Friday elected as speaker of Galmadug parliament in an election held in Dhusamareb, the state's capital amid simmering political tensions.

Earlier before the polls, security analyst Mohamed Abdirahman had warned that the situation was "fragile" adding that "you can't predict who the MPs will vote for".

But the 89-member regional parliament picked Mr. Ga'al after garnering 54 votes. He defeated his closest challenger Abdinasir Aden, who scored a paltry 34 votes during the first round of the ballot.

One vote was spoilt during the voting process, according to the election result announced by the regional electoral commission. Dr. Ga'al will now serve as the speaker of the second parliament of Galmadug, taking over from Ali Ga'al Asir.

The lawmakers also elected Abdullahi Hersi Mohamed as the first deputy speaker while a female candidate Fadume Abdi Ali won the second deputy speaker during the election.

Dr. Ga'al rich academic background

Born in 1966, Ga'al did a management diploma in Mogadishu in 1988 before proceeding to Omdurman University in Sudan where he studied law.

In 1995, he enrolled for another law degree before completing with yet another management degree from the same institution.

Between 2013-14, he served as Minister for Foreign Affairs in Somalia before dropping to serve as a senior advisor in the office of Prime Minister.

Last year, he was appointed to serve in the Mediation Committee in Galmadug following a political crisis until his victory on Friday.

The new speaker has also become an advisor to the current Somali Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire.

Pre-election standoff in Dhusamareb

A power-sharing deal was reached between Federal Government and Ahlu Sunna Waljama'a [ASWJ], easing tensions in the state.

ASWJ 20 seats in the parliament, a Sufi group that has been at loggerheads with the federal government over management of Galmadug, local media reports.

The Parliament was elected earlier this year and is set to legislate issues ranging from administration and sharing of resources.

Dr. Ga'al's biggest assignment will be overseeing presidential polls in the region's capital Dhusamareb, whose date is yet to be announced.

Impending presidential polls

Ahmed Dualle, the Galmadug's outgoing president, has often accused President Mohamed Farmajo of a plot to interfere with the internal affairs of the state.

He had said: "We cannot allow Mogadishu to run the show here. We shall resist such attempts by all means possible."

State polls were scheduled for December 2019 but were postponed following a standoff between ASWJ and the federal government over the selection of MPs.

President Dualle had opposed the process, arguing that his term was interfered with after entering a deal with the Sufi group in 2017.

Farmajo's rivalry with various opposition outfits could eclipse the polls, which have already seen battle lines drawn between top players.

Ahmed Abdi, another Villa Somalia-backed candidate, will face off with Abdirahman Odowaa, who is running on Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's party.

Others are Kamal Gutale Wadajir party under former minister Abdirahman Abdishakur and Abdullahi Wehliye of the ASWJ group.

Interestingly, both candidates hail from the Habargidir clan. Galmadug has a total of 11 clans which are represented by a number of MPs.

Bedel Mohamed, a political commentator, told Garowe Online that "it takes a lot of sacrifices to conduct even a simple local election in Somalia."

Farmajo's quest for dominance

Farmajo, who will be seeking re-election in December, has often been blamed for the chaotic operations of regional governments.

When he visited Nairobi last year, he said: "some foreign countries are working with federal states to overthrow me."

This perhaps explains his unprecedented phobia towards the regional governments, which should ideally enjoy autonomy.

Jubaland and Puntland's leadership has been in frontline questioning his secret plots to impose leadership in state governments.

Last year, Ahmed Madobe, the Jubaland leader, said: "Farmajo wants his own people in State governments for his re-election in December."

So fragile has been the situation that even the opposition wrote to Ethiopian PM Ahmed Abiy, accusing him of endorsing Farmajo's plans through the Ethiopian military.

GAROWE ONLINE