Abdulqaadir Maxamed Nuur “Jamac” has been elected Speaker of Somalia’s House of the People, securing a decisive victory over his rival Abdulqaadir Omar Macallin “Daada” in Monday’s parliamentary vote.

Jamac received 142 votes, while Daada garnered 30 votes, with a total of 174 Members of Parliament participating in the election.

The result places Jamac at the helm of Somalia’s lower house of Parliament at a politically sensitive period, marked by intense debate over constitutional amendments, electoral arrangements and the country’s broader political direction.

Jamac’s election follows an intense lobbying campaign in which the Federal Government and its allies backed his candidacy, seeking to consolidate support within Parliament for the Port Minister as lawmakers prepared to choose a successor to former Speaker Sheikh Aden Mohamed Nur Madobe.

Madobe left the speakership after being elected President of South West State in June, creating a vacancy that triggered the parliamentary contest.

Jamac emerged as the government-backed candidate after the race narrowed to two finalists, with Daada becoming his principal challenger. Other figures who had initially expressed interest, including Sa’adad Mohamed Nur Aliyow and Foreign Affairs Minister Abdisalam Ali “Dhay”, withdrew before the final stage of the contest.

The election comes amid heightened tensions between the Federal Government and opposition forces, particularly over constitutional reforms and the country’s electoral process. Opposition groups had criticised the process ahead of the vote, with the Somalia Salvation Forum describing the election as one-sided and alleging political pressure against potential candidates.

Jamac’s victory is expected to strengthen the government’s position inside Parliament and could have significant implications for the ongoing constitutional and political debates in Somalia.

With 142 votes, the new Speaker takes charge of the House of the People at a crucial moment, as Somalia navigates competing political interests and prepares for the next phase of its national political process.