Somalia’s bicameral parliament convened in a joint session at Villa Hargeisa to deliberate on crucial electoral laws and procedures. The session was attended by 148 members of the House of the People and 28 senators from the Upper House.
Chaired by the First Deputy Speaker of the House of the People, M. Sacidie Yaasiin, and the First Deputy Speaker of the Upper House, the parliament approved the formation of a joint committee to work on issues related to political parties and elections.
The joint committee, led by Mr. Mahdi Guleid, briefed the parliament on its mandate to prepare comprehensive reports on electoral laws, regulations for political parties, and the establishment of an independent National Electoral Commission.
In line with Articles 61 and 67 of the Provisional Constitution, the joint committee is tasked with ensuring that Somali citizens can freely and fairly elect their representatives at various levels of government.
Interior Minister Ali Khosh highlighted that the three draft laws aim to establish a democratic system in Somalia, enabling citizens to exercise their political rights as enshrined in Article 22 of the Constitution.
The draft laws are based on principles such as upholding political rights, ensuring transparency, and promoting fair representation in line with Articles 1, 47, and 106 of the Provisional Constitution.
The First Deputy Speaker of the House of the People, Ms. Sacidie Yaasiin, stated that the draft laws have been forwarded to the joint committee for further deliberation, marking a significant step towards strengthening Somalia’s democratic process.
