Somalia´s Defence Minister Mohamed Mursal has tendered his resignation six months after Prime Minister Hassan Khaire appointed him to his cabinet.
Mursal joins six others in the race to become the Lower House Speaker that fell vacant after the resignation of Mohamed Osman Jawari early this month.
On Monday Trade and Industry Minister Abdiaziz Mohamed, Water and Energy Minister Salim Ibrow and Deputy Minister Interior Ibrahim Yarow resigned following electoral rules by the Speakers Election Committee.
The two others in the race are former Speaker Adan Madobe and Sheikh Mohamed.
The elections have been scheduled for 30 April.