By Nuh Mohamed - Reporter
Somalia, 5 June 2026 - Candidates from the ruling Justice and Solidarity Party (JSP) won all three leadership positions in South West State’s House of Representatives following elections held in Baidoa on Thursday.
Mahad Mohamed Sheikh Hassan was elected Speaker of the Third Parliament of South West State after securing 70 votes, defeating Abdihakin Haji Mohamud Fiqi, who received 25 votes, according to the interim chair of the assembly.
In the race for First Deputy Speaker, Adan Hassan Mohamed won with 82 votes, while his challenger, Abdirizak Hussein Adan, received 12 votes.
Shamso Mohamed Yarow was elected Second Deputy Speaker after securing 73 votes, defeating Ahlam Omar Mohamed, who garnered 21 votes.
Related articles
All three victorious candidates belong to JSP, the political party associated with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
The leadership victory follows JSP’s strong performance in the South West State parliamentary elections, where the party secured 51 of the 95 contested seats after receiving 67,970 votes, representing 53 percent of valid ballots cast.
The outcome is expected to further strengthen JSP’s position ahead of the South West State presidential election, which is scheduled to be decided by the regional parliament on 10 June under the timetable announced by the electoral commission.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud congratulated the newly elected leadership and urged them to discharge their responsibilities with integrity and contribute to strengthening governance, democratic institutions, and public service delivery in South West State.