Somalia: House Speaker election moved from Villa Hargeisa - MP

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somali parliament has agreed to move the election of the speaker away from Villa Hargeisa within the presidential palace to Afisyoni tent near Mogadishu airport, citing security concerns following an attack targeting the House immediately MPs were sworn in last week.

Election for the Lower House speaker is expected to be held on April 27th, in which several candidates have expressed interest in the seat, including Mohamed Mursal, a close ally of outgoing President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo.

Abdirizak Mohamed, the MP who is in charge of elections of the house leadership, said while attending Garowe Online Twitter space discussion that security concerns in the country especially around the parliament building should be taken seriously after mortar attacks claimed by Al-Shabaab.

On Saturday, Al-Shabaab militants also attacked a restaurant on Lido beach within Mogadishu, in which at least six people were killed. The meeting was also attended by Police chief Major General Hijar, who survived the attack by a whisker.

According to him, efforts have been made by the temporary house leadership to ensure everything goes well, especially the security of MPs. He said MPs' efforts to ensure proper security have been thwarted, adding that there is a need to ensure the new legislators are guarded.

"I could not say whether the incident was intentional or unintentional, but when we arrived at the compound we were told that a bullet had hit the refrigerator, and the next day a mortar shell hit the council building," Abdirizak said.

A number of legislators raised concerns about their security following the Saturday attack, noting that there is a need to protect them as they go to elections. Further, security experts questioned Hijar's decision to hold a meeting without ensuring a proper security check.

In the coming weeks, Somalia's legislators are expected to elect the president of the country with Farmaajo now facing stiff opposition from former Presidents Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud along with former PM Hassan Ali Khaire.

The government has also been accused of closely working with criminal elements, but it has persistently denied the allegations. The opposition has been a major target by security forces, leading to discomfort from members of the public.

GAROWE ONLINE