Somalia Approves Bill To Restore Universal Suffrage For First Time In Decades

Somalia’s cabinet approved a bill on Thursday that, if confirmed by parliament, will mark a significant shift in the country’s electoral process by reinstating universal suffrage for the first time in decades. This move aims to end the long-standing practice of indirect voting, where lawmakers and leaders were selected by clan heads and elders rather than by the general populace.

In recent years, Somalia’s political landscape has been shaped by widespread insecurity due to an ongoing Islamist insurgency and weak state structures. These challenges had led to lawmakers electing the president, with the selection of lawmakers themselves being handled by clan heads in both the federal government and regional states.

The plan to transition to direct voting was initially scheduled for 2020, but persistent political disputes and security concerns forced the government to retain the indirect voting system.

“The election rules will lead the country to one person, one vote nationally,” said government spokesperson Farhan Jimale in a statement. “(This) will give the citizens the power to vote and elect for the first time after 55 years. It is a historic day.”

The return to universal suffrage was a key policy initiative announced last year by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who was elected by lawmakers in May 2022 for a five-year term. However, the implementation of this new system faces significant challenges, including logistical hurdles, a lack of infrastructure, and the continued control of large areas of the country by the Islamist militant group al Shabaab.

If successfully implemented, the move would mark a historic turning point for Somalia, granting its citizens the right to vote directly in national elections for the first time in over half a century.

Melissa Enoch

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