By Konchora Guracha and Gathoni Muraya
A new president for Somalia is expected to be sworn in by September 22, following a unanimous decision passed by the new parliament sitting in Nairobi.
The landmark resolution is part of a comprehensive road map laid out by the nascent Transitional Federal Parliament on its second day of business yesterday at the Bomas of Kenya.
Before then the speaker and deputy speakers will be elected. They are expected to spearhead the process through the final stages of a return to peace in the war-torn Horn of Africa state.
There was joy when suddenly one of the Somali parliaments most vocal critics, Hussein Mohamed Aideed, changed his mind and agreed to be sworn in as an MP.
Aideed, who until Thursday evening maintained a hard-line stance towards the (s)election of MPs citing irregularities, said one of the most contentious issues have since been dealt with – namely the intervention of the Arbitration Committee.
"I have not changed my heart …so to speak. I have been in the (peace) process over the past 22 months. I just wanted IGAD to correct contentious issues through the Arbitration Committee," he told journalists.
Aideed, who is the chairman of the Somali Reconciliation and Reconstruction Council (SRRC) and the Somali National Alliance (SNA), said he objected to the flouting of the rules of procedure that saw about 60 MPs "irregularly" elected.
"Now Igad has moved to correct the anomaly that will allow the transitional government to have a legitimate president and parliament," he said
Even as he agreed to take up his seat, Aideed was still adamant he would move a Bill to allegedly amend the various provisions setting out the instruments and institutions of the House and the entire process.
Also sworn-in yesterday was Dr Abdul Aziz Sheikh, whose election on Thursday was noisily rejected by fellow MPs due to alleged irregularity.