Wednesday November 27, 2024
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia's bicameral parliament approved the establishment of the Independent National Electoral and Boundaries Commission on Wednesday in a joint parliamentary session held in Mogadishu.
Speaker of the House of the People, Sheikh Adan Mohamed Nur Madoobe, announced that 169 out of 175 lawmakers voted in favor of the commission, with six opposing and none abstaining. The move follows the Council of Ministers' prior endorsement of the commission's formation, marking a significant step toward Somalia's first direct elections in over 50 years.
The newly formed 18-member commission oversees elections at all government levels and implements a one-person, one-vote system to replace the clan-based electoral model. The reform is part of a broader plan to transition Somalia's political framework to universal suffrage.
Local council elections are scheduled for June 2025, with federal parliamentary and presidential elections planned for September of the same year.
The approval of the commission comes days after Somali lawmakers passed an electoral bill establishing the legal framework for direct voting, further advancing Somalia's commitment to democratic governance.