Monday October 4, 2021
Jowhar (HOL) - Hirshabelle's state parliament will resume electing senators to Somalia's Federal Parliament on Monday after MPs abandoned the vote over two weeks ago due to a major disruption in the election hall.
Reports indicate that the disturbance began after the first round of voting.
Abdikadir Hanafi led with 35 votes, followed by Abdalla Abdi Hussein with 29 votes, Ali Sha'ban Ibrahim with 28 votes and Asha Hussein, the lone female in the race, trailed far behind with just two votes.
Lawmakers who supported Ali Sha'ban Ibrahim - Hirshabelle President Yusuf Dabageed's candidate - allegedly carried out the disruption when they realized Shaban would not make it to the second round run-off vote.
The election fracas caused a rift between the Hirshabelle President and Vice-President.
On Monday, Ali Sha'ban Ibrahim, Abdikadir Hanafi Sheikh Bashir and Abdalle Abdi Hussein will go head-to-head in the first senate race of the day. Asha Hussein dropped out of the race.
Naimo Ibrahim Yusuf and Samsam Abdullahi Hussein will vie for the final senate seat, which has been reserved for women. As a result, Abukar Hassan Maqaneey and Mohamed Mahalin Kulmiye were taken off the ballot before Monday's vote.
Election organizers believe that Hirshabelle will have completed its senate elections by the end of the day if all goes well.
So far, only six senators have been elected from Hirshabelle.
HirShabelle is allocated eight seats in the Upper House alongside Galmudug, Jubaland and South West, while Puntland and Somaliland get 11 seats.