Somaliland’s House of Elders elects new speaker as long‑serving Guurti leader steps down

On 12 July 2026 the Guurti, Somaliland’s traditional House of Elders, elected Muse Haji Abdi Du’ale as its new speaker after the 92‑year‑old Saleebaan Mohamoud Aden resigned. Saleebaan, who had chaired the upper chamber since 2004, cited advancing age and declining physical strength, stating, “I am tired; age has caught up with me.”

The peaceful transition ends more than two decades of Saleebaan’s leadership, during which the Guurti played a central role in reviewing legislation, mediating political disputes and contributing to Somaliland’s relative stability. The newly elected speaker will now oversee the chamber’s constitutional duties as the region continues its push for institutional reforms and broader international engagement.