Ali Guudlaawe has been elected the new President of HirShabelle State, a semiautonomous region in Somalia.
Guudlaawe had served as the Deputy President for several years.
He also worked as the Deputy President under Mohamed Abdi Waare, who resigned last week on Monday as the President of HirShabelle.
On Wednesday, November 11, the HirShabelle Regional Parliament overwhelmingly voted him into office.
Guudlaawe becomes HirShabelle’s third president in the last four years.
He enjoys backing from Mogadishu, especially from the administration of President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo.
Previously, his predecessor Waare also enjoyed similar attention from Villa Somalia.
While resigning last week, Waare accused Villa Somalia of betraying him and failing to provide the support he needed.