By Abdullahi Salad - Reporter
JIGJIGA, October 1, 2026 – The Somali Regional State's 7th Council has re-elected Mustafe Mohamed Omer as President and elected Mubashir Dubad Rage as the new Speaker of the House, in its first session.
Mustafe, also known as Agjar, and his Vice President Ibrahim Osman Farah were both re-elected to the posts they held in the previous term. Both are members of the Somali Prosperity Party.
The Council also elected a new leadership for the House. Mubashir Dubad Rage, who previously served as Minister of Planning in the regional government, was elected Speaker. He replaces Ayaan Abdi Mohamed, the first woman in the Council's history to be elected Speaker.
Engineer Hanan Abdo was elected Deputy Speaker.
Mustafe Omer has led the Somali Regional State since August 2018, after the removal of former president Abdi Mohamoud Omar, known as Abdi Iley.
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The 7th Council was formed after Ethiopia's 7th general election held on June 1, 2026, which elected members of the federal parliament and regional councils.
Other regional councils have also opened their new terms this week, with the Oromia Council holding its first session on September 28 and re-electing Shimelis Abdisa as President.
The session in Jigjiga is expected to continue, with approval of the new Somali Regional State cabinet expected next.