An incident disrupted the session: the arrival in the room where the deputies of two rival delegations from one region sat, one not recognizing the legitimacy of the other.
The issue of MPs from the Gedo region has been at the heart of Somali political problems for two weeks. This Saturday, it was their arrival in the ultra-secure tent in the green zone of Mogadishu where the deputies sit which provoked protests, some jostling and finally an incident during the session. Several deputies rose up, asking what they were doing there, when they are not officially accredited.
The elected officials were preparing to attend the transfer of power between the former president of the lower house, Mohamed Mursal, and the new one, Sheikh Aden Madobe, elected on Wednesday evening. A ceremony which finally took place, once the undesirable deputies were driven out.
This situation is the consequence of a disagreement between the head of the federal state, Mohamed Farmajo, and the president of the state of Jubaland where the Gedo region is located, which caused a split and the election of two groups rivals of sixteen deputies.
It was already their presence at the session for the election of the president of the lower house on Wednesday which had delayed the opening of the vote all day. Eventually, the electoral disputes committee invalidated both ballots for the Gedo region. A new vote must therefore be organized there.