Somalia Parliament Clarifies Withdrawal from IPU Presidential Election

In a formal announcement, Abdullahi Omar Abshirow, Second Deputy Speaker of Somalia’s Lower House, elucidated the government’s choice to withdraw from the International Parliamentary Union (IPU) Presidential election held in Angola last Friday.

Despite Somalia’s representation at the event by a parliamentary candidate, Abshirow, leading the Somalia parliamentary delegation, conveyed that Somalia and Tanzania had mutually agreed for Somalia to step back from the IPU seat in favor of Tanzania. In exchange, Tanzania committed to aiding Somalia in its entry into the East African Community and securing another seat at the United Nations.

The Second Deputy Speaker revealed that Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had issued a letter in August, expressing unequivocal support for Tanzania’s candidacy for the IPU presidency.

However, Marwa Abdi Bashir expressed her unawareness of the letter issued by Parliament Speaker Sheikh Aden Mohamed Noor Madobe, wherein he officially declared Somalia’s withdrawal from the election. She expressed her deep regret regarding the parliament’s decision in this matter