The Somaliland Senate today officially elected Muse Haji Abdi Duale as the new Speaker of the House, just hours after the previous Speaker, Saleebaan Mahmoud Aden, officially resigned from his position and membership in the Senate.
The election took place in a calm atmosphere, with two of the candidates competing with Muse Haji Abdi Duale withdrawing, which facilitated the election of the new speaker by a majority.
The new Speaker of the Senate, Muse Haji Abdi Duale, said that he sees the position he was elected to as a responsibility to serve the people.
“I was elected to serve the people. Both of my fellow MPs who were competing with me have both withdrawn, and they are grateful,” said Speaker Muse.
One of the candidates who withdrew said that the election was conducted in a transparent and peaceful manner, calling on the people of Somaliland to work with the new speaker and the Senate.
“The election went well. We are all standing with our new Speaker. If it used to be said that they were fighting, today that is not the case. He is our Speaker, and I urge the people of Somaliland to work with the new Speaker and the House,” he said.
The new Speaker also highly praised the former Speaker of the House of Elders, Saleebaan Mohamud Adan, describing him as a leader who played a historic role in the construction and stability of Somaliland. He pledged to continue serving the people and carrying out the duties of the House in accordance with the constitution and the interests of Somaliland.
The election came after Saleebaan Mohamud Adan, 92, announced his resignation today, citing age and physical infirmity as the reason for his resignation. The change marks the end of more than two decades of leadership and opens a new chapter for the Somaliland House of Elders to have new leadership.
