The conclusion of Somalia’s long-delayed parliamentary elections in Gedo has brought relief and renewed momentum to the national political process. On Sunday, 16 MPs elected in Elwaq arrived in Mogadishu to receive their certificates, marking an end to a protracted stalemate that had threatened to derail the elections entirely. The vote was peaceful, well-organized, and widely accepted as legitimate by clans, the Federal Electoral Implementation Team (FEIT), Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble, and most Somalis. However, in Garbahaarey, the camp loyal to President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, in coordination with Ethiopian military intelligence, launched a controversial parallel “election” deemed illegal by the FEIT and PM Roble. Critics say this move is a desperate attempt by Farmaajo to retain political influence in Gedo, potentially positioning himself as a regional powerbroker should he lose the presidency.