Somalia's cabinet approved a bill on Thursday that, if confirmed by parliament, will restore universal suffrage in the country for the first time in decades, ending a long-standing system of indirect voting, according to a government spokesperson.
"The election rules will lead the country to one person, one vote nationally," said government spokesperson Farhan Jimale. "This will give citizens the power to vote and elect for the first time in 55 years. It is a significant day."
In recent years, due to widespread insecurity from an Islamist insurgency and weak state structures, lawmakers have been elected by clan leaders and elders, who in turn selected the president. Somalia had planned to switch to direct voting in 2020, but political disagreements and ongoing security issues delayed the transition.
The implementation of universal suffrage will face considerable logistical and security challenges, particularly due to the lack of infrastructure and the presence of al Shabaab, an Islamist militant group that controls large areas of the country. The policy was introduced last year by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who was elected by lawmakers for a five-year term in May 2022.
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