MOGADISHU, Somalia – In a joint session on Saturday, Somalia’s parliament unanimously approved the bill for establishing the Independent National Electoral and Boundaries Commission. A total of 173 MPs voted in favor, with no objections or abstentions, amid rising tensions over the proposed one-person, one-vote system.
Following the vote count, Sheikh Aden Madobe, the Speaker of the Lower House, announced the results, stating that the final steps to complete the remaining tasks—such as the approval of political party laws and members—are now underway.
Expressing his gratitude to both houses for their approval of the regulation, Minister of Interior Ali Yusuf Hosh said the new legislation would ensure Somalia holds popular elections for the first time in decades. “This is a significant milestone,” he said. “It also marks a crucial step toward ensuring direct elections in Somalia.”
Earlier this month, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud requested that both houses skip their annual two-month leave and extend their current session by one month to approve the electoral regulations, which they did on Saturday.
In a press conference on Saturday, Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, a leading opposition figure, along with MP Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame, expressed their deep concern over the state of governance in Somalia. “This is no longer about elections,” he said. “It has reached the point where we question whether there will be any transfer of power.”
Sheikh Ahmed accused the current president of systematically dismantling the government’s foundations, leaving the nation on the brink of collapse. He warned, “We are witnessing an unprecedented crisis, with the very institutions holding the country together being eroded.”
On Saturday, Jubaland, one of Somalia’s five regional states, condemned the approval of the electoral commission, calling it “unconstitutional.” The state emphasized that it will not be part of any electoral laws that violate the constitution.
Jubaland President Ahmed Madobe is set to hold an indirect election for his state this month, defying the country’s push for a one-person, one-vote system. Last week, he appointed a seven-member committee to oversee the election and has secured support from Puntland President Said Deni and other opposition leaders.
Jubaland and Puntland previously rejected a similar proposal from former President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, leading to an indirect presidential election. At the time, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, then in opposition, supported both states in their stance against Farmaajo. However, now those same states are opposing his vision for direct elections in Somalia.
Somalia has never had a nationwide electoral system like the one being pushed now. Since 1969, when General Siad Barre took power, Somalia’s politics have been shaped by clan affiliations rather than direct voting. Instead of elections where every citizen votes, key political positions—such as president, prime minister, and speaker—have historically been allocated based on clan representation.
In Somalia, both the Lower and Upper Houses of Parliament, which are responsible for electing the president, are made up of members selected by clan delegates, not through a direct vote. This system has been in place for decades, with clan influence still playing a major role in the country’s political landscape.
Reported by Abdirisak Mohamud Tuuryare
