MOGADISHU — The Speaker of the House of the People of Somalia’s Federal Parliament, Sheikh Adan Mohamed Nur (Madoobe), has presided over an extraordinary session of the Standing Committee at Villa Hargeisa in Mogadishu.
Speaker Madoobe informed Standing Committee members about his recent trip to Baidoa, the provisional capital of South West State. He emphasized recent political progress in the state and the federal government’s continuous initiatives concerning leadership elections in the region.
Speaker’s Visit to Baidoa
Speaker Madoobe arrived in Baidoa on March 31 to oversee preparations for South West State presidential and local council elections, a day after federal forces took control of the city following the resignation of former regional president Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen.
Upon arrival, the Speaker convened a high-level strategic meeting with Somali National Army commanders in Baidoa to evaluate security conditions and bolster stabilization initiatives in the wake of the political upheaval. The military talks centered on enhancing immediate security measures throughout the city and its surrounding vicinity.
During the briefing, frontline military commanders informed the Speaker about the culmination of successful tactical operations that formally secured the vital arterial road connecting Mogadishu directly to Baidoa, which had long been under severe threat and intermittent blockade by Al-Shabaab militants.
In his concluding remarks, Speaker Madoobe praised the armed forces for their swift contributions and sacrifices in restoring urban stability, stressing the importance of expediting ongoing security operations to guarantee durable peace as the new regional administration begins to take shape.
New Lawmaker Joins Federal Parliament
During the Standing Committee session, the Auditor General of the House of the People, MP Mohamed Abdullahi Hassan (Nuuh), administered the oath of office to MP Abdulqadir Mohamed Nur (Jamac), who formally became a member of the 11th Federal Parliament.
Deputy Ministers Sworn In
Oaths were also administered to newly appointed Deputy Ministers, including Ismail Eid Mohamed of the Ministry of Planning, Investment and Economic Development; Hassan Mohamed Ali of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; and Nadiifo Adan Isaaq of the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources.
The appointments were made by Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre in a cabinet reshuffle aimed at strengthening the government’s capacity and improving service delivery following recent vacancies.
Prime Minister Barre urged the new officials to carry out their duties with professionalism and integrity, stressing the need to prioritize public interest and support national development.
Political Transition in South West State
The Speaker’s briefing on South West State comes amid a significant political transition in the region. Former President Laftagareen resigned following the federal government’s intervention, which saw Somali National Army troops and allied forces secure control of Baidoa.
The federal government’s objective is to restore constitutional order and ensure that South West State aligns with the broader electoral framework, which emphasizes direct elections and the transition to a one-person, one-vote system.
The crisis in South West State stems from a broader political dispute between the federal government and several regional administrations over constitutional amendments extending the mandates of federal institutions from four to five years. The changes have been rejected by South West, Puntland, and Jubbaland, which accuse Mogadishu of undermining Somalia’s federal system.
Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre later appointed Second Deputy Prime Minister Jibril Abdirashid Haji Abdi as acting head of the regional administration. Federal officials said the interim arrangement would guide the state through a transition and prepare the ground for direct elections.
Ongoing Security Efforts
Speaker Madoobe’s security consultations in Baidoa form part of broader federal efforts to stabilize the region following the political upheaval and ensure that security guarantees back political maneuvers on the ground.
The meeting forms part of the Lower House’s regular activities aimed at advancing legislative work and strengthening parliamentary oversight, according to officials.
