Ethiopia’s Somali Region Convenes Seventh Term Council, Re-Elects Leadership

JIGJIGA — The Somali Regional State Council has re-elected Mustafe Muhumed Omar as Chief Administrator during the first session of the first year of its seventh term, according to a statement from the regional government.

The re-election took place as the Council convened in Jigjiga following the seventh national election to swear in newly elected members and approve new regional leadership appointments. The Council also elected Mubashir Dubad as Speaker and Engineer Hanan Abdi as Deputy Speaker. The newly elected officials took their oaths of office before the Council.

A Leadership with a Track Record in the Region

Mustafe Muhumed Omar, also known as Mustafe Cagjar, has led the Somali Regional State since 2018. His tenure has been marked by efforts to stabilise a region that has historically experienced political marginalisation and conflict. In 2024, he laid the foundation stone for Jigjiga’s first dedicated mothers and children hospital, a facility intended to serve the growing population of the regional capital, as reported in FTL Somalia’s coverage of the hospital project.

His administration has also been the counterpart for major federal development initiatives in the region, including the Ogaden Liquefied Natural Gas project, which Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed inaugurated in October 2025. The project, located in Calub, represents a significant investment in a region that has historically been neglected, as detailed in FTL Somalia’s coverage of the LNG megaproject.

Omar has also been a visible participant in regional diplomacy. In January 2026, he hosted Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, and Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh in Jigjiga for the inauguration of the “Shabelle” tourism initiative, a development project intended to stimulate the local economy. As reported in FTL Somalia’s analysis of the summit, the visit highlighted the complex dynamics of pan-Somali politics and the region’s role as a bridge between Addis Ababa and Mogadishu.

Context of the Regional Council

The Somali Regional State is one of Ethiopia’s eleven regional states, with its capital in Jigjiga. The region is home to ethnic Somalis and shares borders with Somalia, Djibouti, and the Oromia and Afar regions of Ethiopia.

The seventh-term council was elected in Ethiopia’s national elections in 2026. The re-election of Mustafe Muhumed by the council confirms his continuation as the region’s chief executive.

Critical Note

The re-election of Mustafe Muhumed as Chief Administrator of Ethiopia’s Somali Regional State is a significant political development for a region that sits at the intersection of Ethiopian federal politics and Somali regional dynamics. His tenure has been marked by a dual role: managing the region’s relationship with Addis Ababa while navigating the complex clan and political landscape within the Somali Region itself.

The council session also reflects the broader political context in Ethiopia. The federal government is grappling with a renewed alliance of armed groups, including the Fano militia, the Oromo Liberation Army, and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, which has raised questions about the stability of the region and the ability of regional administrations to maintain order. The Somali Regional State has its own political dynamics, including the presence of the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), which has transitioned from armed struggle to political engagement since the 2018 peace agreement.

The ONLF’s stated ambition to play a more prominent role in the region’s political leadership, as expressed in its recent statements, suggests that the political landscape in the Somali Region remains fluid. Mustafe Muhumed’s re-election may provide continuity, but the underlying tensions over representation, resource management, and the region’s relationship with the federal government will remain. The council’s ability to address those tensions, and the administration’s capacity to deliver on development promises, will determine whether the new term produces stability or deeper political contestation.