On 8th August 2024, the Federal Government of Somalia’s (FGS) cabinet unanimously approved the Political Associations and Parties Bill and the National Electoral Bill. The Political Associations and Parties Bill (PAPB) was drafted by the FGS Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation (MoIFAR) and is consistent with and builds on amendments to Chapter Four of the provisional constitution – particularly articles 52, 53, and 54 – which covers election-related matters. The parliament will review and is expected to approve the bill after three rounds of readings. It is one of three bills relating to elections, along with the Establishment Bill of the Independent National Electoral and Boundaries Commission & the National Electoral Bill – recently approved by the cabinet.

Hindise-sharciyeedka Dhismaha Guddiga Madaxa-bannaan ee Doorashooyinka Qaranka iyo Soohdimaha waxa uu meelo badan kala mid yahay sharcigii hore ee lagu dhisay Guddiga Madaxa-bannaan ee Doorashooyinka Qaranka. Waxaa kamid ah muddada lixda sano ah ee xubnaha Guddiga, xaruntiisa in ay tahay Muqdisho, miisaaniyadda u gaarka ah, iyo in uu yeelanayo howlwadeenno maamul oo u gaar ah.

The Establishment Bill of the the Independent National Elections and Boundaries Commission has some similarities with the pre-exisitng law, which established the National Independent Electoral Commission (NIEC). These include the six-year term of the Commission, its headquartering in Mogadishu, its separate budget, and a dedicated administrative team.

Maadaama aan ka shaqeynayay cilmibaarisyo la xiriira doorashooyinka Soomaaliya tan iyo sanadkii 2015, waxaan fahamsanahay culeyska ay leedahay in la qabto doorashooyin iyadoo ay jiraan kalsooni darro baahsan, heshiiska siyaasadeed uu qabyo yahay, iyo hay’adaha dowladda oo weli curdan ah. Sanad kahor, waxaan arkayay fursad lagu dejin karo khariidad doorasho oo dhab ah, taasoo fulinteeda labo ilaa saddex sano oo shaqo adag ah ku qaadan kartay hay’adaha maareynta doorashooyinka si ay doorasho uga dhacdo Soomaaliya.

Having worked on and studied election processes in Somalia since 2015, I understand the difficulties of conducting successful polls in a context of widespread mistrust, a weak political settlement, and nascent public institutions. A year ago, I saw an opportunity for the adoption of a realistic roadmap to elections, which would have taken two to three years of hard work by the election management body(ies) to conduct elections in Somalia.

Inkastoo ay dowladda federaalka diiradda saartay diblomaasiyadda iyo abaabulka dadweynaha, waxay ay heshiiska iyo qalalaasaha taagan u adeegsan kartaa fursad ay uga shaqeyso midnimo qaran.