Somali parliament elects speaker

By Mohammed Dhaysane

MOGADISHU, Somalia

Some Somali 259 lawmakers have elected Wednesday Mohamed Osman Jawari as speaker of parliament for the next four years in the capital Mogadishu.

Jawari won in the first round of voting with 141 votes. The second place candidate received 97 votes.

“I am very happy to become the House of the People’s speaker. Thanks for those who voted for me and against me,” Jawari said in the parliament building.

Mohamed Osman Jawari was the former parliament speaker.

His election, numerous times postponed, is considered a key step towards the designation of the country's president, for whom the lawmakers will vote.

More than 14,000 delegates, designated by clan elders, elected the lawmakers. The seats in the lower house were distributed according to . Those in the upper house were allocated by region.

By Mohammed Dhaysane

MOGADISHU, Somalia

Some Somali 259 lawmakers have elected Wednesday Mohamed Osman Jawari as speaker of parliament for the next four years in the capital Mogadishu.

Jawari won in the first round of voting with 141 votes. The second place candidate received 97 votes.

“I am very happy to become the House of the People’s speaker. Thanks for those who voted for me and against me,” Jawari said in the parliament building.

Mohamed Osman Jawari was the former parliament speaker.

His election, numerous times postponed, is considered a key step towards the designation of the country's president, for whom the lawmakers will vote.

More than 14,000 delegates, designated by clan elders, elected the lawmakers. The seats in the lower house were distributed according to . Those in the upper house were allocated by region.