Hargeysa(Mogadishu24)-The Somaliland Members of Parliament have elected MP Yassin Haji Mohamud Faraton as the new Speaker of the Somaliland Parliament. Faratoon, a member of the ruling party, secured victory with 46 votes, defeating his competitor, Mohamed Khadar, who received 35 votes.

Yassin Haji Mohamud Faratoon has a close relationship with President Muse Bihi and previously served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Somaliland.

The election took place after Member of Parliament Ali Hamud Jibril announced his withdrawal from the race late last night. Jibril decided to yield the seat to MP Mohamed Khadar Dahir, also from the UCID party, who was ultimately defeated by Faratoon.

This election came barely a month after the former Speaker, Abdirizack Khalif Ahmed, resigned from the position, citing atrocities committed by the Somaliland Administration against innocent civilians in Las Anod, resulting in the loss of hundreds of lives.

MP Faratoon, who hails from the Sool region is considered as an influential figure within the Kulmiye party, which had been anticipated in this election.