Somalia elects senate speakers ahead of presidential election

Somalia took a step closer to electing a new president Sunday after completing the election of the Senate Speaker and two deputies.

Abdi Hashi Abdullahi, an outspoken veteran politician from the break-away region of Somaliland, emerged as winner of the Senate Speaker election, which took place about a week after the Lower House picked its speakers.

Abdullahi beat his rival Mustaf Mohamed Qodah with 43 to 8 votes. Qodah conceded the defeat and congratulated the winner.

The two are both from Somaliland in line with the clan power sharing arrangements in the country's political order.

Abdullahi, who also served as minister for health, arts and culture during the transitional government between 2005 and 2008, will join hands with the Lower House Speaker Mohamed Osman Jawari to draft a timetable for the presidential election.

Under Somalia's 2016 electoral model, the Parliament will elect a new president who will require a two-thirds majority of the votes to win.

Over 15 candidates are contesting for presidency including the incumbent Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Abdirashid Omar Sharmarke.

First and Second Deputy Speakers Abshir Mohamed Ahmed Bukhari and Mowlid Hussein Guhad were also elected Sunday in a tightly contested race.

Two senators are yet to be elected to add up to the 54 as sanctioned by the country's Provisional Constitution.

Security remained tight in and around the Senate building in Mogadishu with intelligence agency teams manning major roads in the city. Endit