This archive report was first published on 18 November 2021.
On November 18, 2021, Somalia's federal electoral agency issued a crucial directive to regional polls supervisors, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that at least 30 percent of seats in the Lower House, also known as the House of the People, are allocated to women.
The agency's letter to state electoral teams included a table outlining the number of legislators each state will vote for, out of the total 275 MPs, and the respective 30 percent women legislators.
With 275 seats shared between the five federal states and Benadir, the agency's push for increased female representation in Parliament is a significant step towards promoting gender equality in Somalia's political landscape.
According to the Federal Electoral Implementation Team (FEIT), every clan that votes for more than two MPs should elect at least one woman to meet the 30 percent quota, which translates to a minimum of 82 women legislators.
Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble has also weighed in on the matter, urging local State Electoral Implementation Teams (SEIT) and representatives of FEIT to ensure a transparent and reliable electoral process.
During a meeting with SEIT representatives in Galmudug, PM Roble emphasized the importance of adhering to the agreed electoral modalities, stating, “I hereby urge you to refrain from anything that contradicts the agreed electoral modalities.”
