For the first time in Somalia, a woman leads the parliament.
Ahmed Salem
The First Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives in the Federal Parliament took office SomaliSaadia Yassin Haji Samatar assumed the duties of the council presidency on a temporary basis, following the election of the former council president, Sheikh Adam Mohamed Noor «Madobe», as president of the South West State of Somalia.
The transfer of the leadership of the council to Saadia Yassin came in application of the internal regulations of the People’s Assembly, which stipulate that the first deputy shall assume the responsibilities of the Speaker of the Assembly temporarily, when the position is vacant or the Speaker is unable to perform his duties, until a new Speaker is elected.
Adam Madobe elected president of Southwest State
The South West State Parliament elected Adam Madobe as president of the state in a vote held in Baidoa on June 10, 2026, after he received 88 votes, amid political objections to the course of the electoral process and his main rival’s rejection of the results.
Saadia Yassin is expected to manage the People’s Assembly sessions and oversee its legislative and oversight work during the transitional phase, until the Assembly completes the legal procedures related to declaring the position vacant, opening nominations, and electing a new president.
The appointment of Saadia Yassin as Speaker of Parliament represents a significant milestone in Somali political life, as she became the first woman to officially and temporarily assume the leadership of the People's Assembly since the establishment of federal institutions in the country.
This transition comes at a time when Parliament is facing sensitive political and constitutional issues, coinciding with ongoing disputes between the federal government, some political forces, and the states regarding the electoral process, constitutional amendments, and arrangements for the next phase.
