New South West state MPs unveiled, reduced from 149 to 95

A selection committee tasked with composition of South West parliament has unveiled a 95-member list for the state assembly reducing the number from the initial 149.

The ten-member committee which was appointed in February started the selection process of  MPs for the second parliament of South West state on March 1.

According to a source privy to the selection process, the committee cut down the number of the MPs from 149 to 95 in ‘line with the state constitution.

The current president, Abdiaziz Lafta Gareen was elected by the former parliament in October 2019 following the resignation of then and founding president Sharif Hassan Adan in November. Adan also pulled out of the presidential race following tensions with the Federal Government.

South West state is one of the vote rich states for a presidential candidate in Somalia commanding 69 Federal Parliament MPs.

At least 15 people were killed and scores of others injured in the build-up to the presidential in December following the forceful arrest by Ethiopian soldiers under AMISOM of then leading candidate Mukhtar Robow. Prior to joining politics, Robow had been Al-Shabaab’s number two leader.