Somalia’s political climate reaches a decisive moment as MPs vote for the Lower House speaker and two deputies, a process seen as a key indicator of the upcoming presidential race. Tensions flared after outgoing President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo’s loyal NISA units raided Villa Hargeisa, attempting to block newly sworn-in Gedo MPs from participating by seizing parliamentary ID cards. Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble countered the move, pledging to release an official attendance list to bypass the obstruction. Security forces remain embroiled in political intrigue, with senior police commanders implicated in the disruption. Reports of MPs being ferried to hotels for alleged cash for votes deals highlight the high-stakes, big-money nature of this election. Opposition forces, buoyed by the Senate’s re-election of Farmaajo critic Abdi Hashi as speaker, see momentum on their side.