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Somalia: Parliamentarians elect new president
NIAS Africa Studies Daily Brief 16 May 2022

IN BRIEF

by Apoorva Sudhakar

Somalia: Parliamentarians elect a new president
On 15 May, the Somali Members of Parliament elected Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as the country’s new president. Mohamud had previously served as the president from 2012 to 2017; in the latest election, he secured 217 votes against incumbent president Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed (Farmaajo) who won 110 votes. Mohamud was immediately sworn in after Farmaajo concened defeat. In the capital city, Somalis defied curfews and held celebrations welcoming the election results. (“Somalia elects Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as new president,” Al Jazeera, 15 May 2022; Mohamud Ali, “Celebrations in Mogadishu as Somalia gets new leader,” BBC, 16 May 2022)

Tunisia: Tunisians protest against president's political measures
On 15 May, capital city Tunis witnessed protests as Tunisians denounced rising food prices and President Kais Saeid’s political steps. BBC qouted a coordinator from the Citizens against the Coup who said the people were against Saeid’s new constitution and termed it “unilaterally drawn up.” Similarly, an official from the Ennahda Movement said the protests are likely to transform into hunger strikes and sit-ins. (“Thousands hold protests against Tunisia president,” BBC, 16 May 2022)

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