Ex-President elected chair of Union for Peace and Democracy party

The former president will serve on interim basis for six months

President Mohamud will lead the new party on interim basis as it prepares for national delegates conference in March. File Photo: EU Somalia

Former President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has been elected as interim chairman of the newly formed Union for Peace and Democracy (UPD) party.

Party officials meeting in Mogadishu Sunday endorsed Mohamud who served as the first post Transitional Federal Government president from 2012 to 2016.

The new party which brings together Mohamud’s Peace and Development Party and Daljir Party also approved a party constitution.

“We elected Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as interim chairman for six months. The national party convention will meet in March to elect permanent officials of the party,” UPD MP Ahmed Fiqi told Goobjoog News.

Fiqi added the new party now commands single majority in the Federal Parliament with 80 lawmakers.

The party which will be officially unveiled Thursday will be battling for the country’s leadership in the 2020 elections. Deputy Prime Minister Mahdi Guled said July a new party led by President Mohamed Farmaajo was in the works.

Mohamud lost to Farmaajo in a tight race last February and for the first time since then came back to the country last month.