Abdirisakh Ahmed Said Farah has been elected as the new Speaker of Somalia’s Puntland regional Parliament following an election that took on Thursday in the capital city, Garowe.
Said garnered 37 votes out of the 66 votes cast by the regional parliamentarians, compelling his competitors to withdraw from the race in the first round.
Abdirizack was declared the winner after securing most of the votes.
Former Speaker Abdirashid Yussuf Jibril, received eight votes, Mohamed Farah Mohamed Gabyow got ten votes, while Mursal Mohamud Abdi gathered ten votes.
The new speaker, who is the former chairman of the Puntland transitional electoral commission, is said to be a closest ally of President Said Abdullahi Deni.
The election of the new Deputy Speakers is set to take place shortly.
