Somalia faces political shifts as new Speaker is elected and Ethiopia requests troop withdrawal

Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur Jaamac has been confirmed as the Speaker of Somalia’s House of the People, winning 142 votes. His ascent follows a period of significant political upheaval in Southwest State, where federal troops dismantled the regional administration in March 2026, leading to the resignation of President Abdiaziz Laftagareen. Opposition figures have raised concerns regarding the legitimacy of Jaamac’s parliamentary seat, alleging it was reassigned without proper competition or legal procedures following the removal of the previous administration.

Simultaneously, the security landscape in Somalia is shifting as Ethiopia has reportedly requested the African Union to accelerate the withdrawal and redeployment of its troops serving under the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). This request deviates from previous frameworks that expected Ethiopian forces to maintain a substantial presence. The move is reportedly driven by internal security pressures within Ethiopia. Early signs of this shift include the handover of military positions in Buurhakaba and potential reductions of troops in the strategic city of Baidoa.