Monday February 10, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) – Somali Lower House Speaker Sheikh Aden Mohamed Nur Madobe announced on Monday that Parliament is working to ensure the country transitions to a one-person, one-vote electoral system, a key reform to strengthen Somalia's democratic governance.
Speaking at an event in Mogadishu, Madobe emphasized the implementation of electoral reform, stating that the Somali people deserve the right to directly elect their leaders.
"The Somali Parliament must have the courage to guide the country toward one-person, one-vote elections. We need to take decisive action so that the people can choose who will lead them," he said.
Madobe highlighted the progress made under the 11th Parliament, noting its role in addressing key national challenges. "This Parliament has brought significant changes that the Somali people needed. We have overcome obstacles the international community expected us to resolve, and now it is time to push forward with implementing elections," he added.
The push for electoral reform aligns with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's recent pledge to implement a one-person, one-vote system by 2026. However, this plan has faced resistance from opposition leaders and the regional administrations of Puntland and Jubbaland, who accuse federal authorities of attempting to control the electoral process without proper consultation unilaterally.
The proposed system would replace the current clan-based power-sharing model, known as the "4.5 system," with direct elections—an ambitious shift seen as essential for long-term political stability but fraught with logistical and political challenges.