By Asha Elmi - Reporter
Somalia (Dawan), 10 August 2026 — Somalia's Ports and Maritime Transport Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur ‘Jama’ was elected speaker of the House of the People on Monday after securing 142 votes, defeating rival Abdulkadir Omar Moallim ‘Daada’, who received 30 votes.
Two ballots were declared invalid, Acting Speaker Sadia Yasin said after the vote.
In his victory speech, Nur thanked lawmakers who supported him as well as those who voted for his rival, saying he would work to serve all members of parliament.
Nur said he had resigned from his government position and political organization following his election, citing constitutional and parliamentary rules requiring the speaker to maintain political neutrality.
He also pledged to reach out to lawmakers absent from parliament over political grievances and said he would work with the speaker's deputies and parliamentary committees to address their concerns.
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"We will create a clear policy to strengthen and, God willing, bring them back," Nur said, referring to lawmakers who are away from parliament over political grievances.
Nur also pledged to strengthen cooperation with the parliaments of Somalia's federal member states and to further develop relations between the House of the People and the Senate.
The newly elected speaker called for unity and equality, saying his leadership would seek to represent all Somalis and support their social and political rights.
Nur previously served as Somalia's defense minister from December 2021 to March 2024 before becoming minister of ports and marine transport.
The election comes amid political tensions in Somalia over the constitution, the electoral process and relations between the federal government and opposition groups.