By Mohamed Abdi - Reporter
MOGADISHU, Somalia, July 8, 2026 (Dawan) – Somali National Unity Council led by former prime minister Omar Abdirashid Sharma’arke has unveiled a comprehensive electoral proposal advocating direct parliamentary elections under a political party system, offering what it describes as an inclusive alternative to the country’s current electoral arrangements.
Dawan Africa has learned that the council circulated the proposal to international mediators ahead of the anticipated dialogue between the Federal Government of Somalia and opposition groups, where electoral arrangements are expected to be a central issue in the negotiations.
In a policy paper titled A Viable Electoral Model for Somalia, the council said the proposed framework aims to strengthen democratic legitimacy, constitutional governance and political inclusiveness while preserving Somalia’s federal structure. It describes the proposal as a political agreement in principle that would require constitutional amendments, electoral legislation and institutional reforms before implementation.
The proposal recommends replacing the clan-based parliamentary election system with direct elections conducted under a first-past-the-post voting model within multiple parliamentary constituencies. Under the framework, each Federal Member State would establish at least six parliamentary constituency election areas to improve voter access, electoral administration, security and constituency-based representation.
The council said every eligible Somali citizen should have the constitutional right to directly elect members of the House of the People through universal suffrage, secret ballots and the principle of one person, one vote. It also proposes a single nationwide voter registration process administered by an Independent Federal Election Commission to ensure equal participation across the country.
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Under the proposed model, members of the House of the People would be elected directly by registered voters in their respective constituencies, while members of the Upper House would continue to be elected through statewide electoral processes representing each Federal Member State, preserving the Senate’s constitutional role in protecting Somalia’s federal system.
The proposal calls for establishing an Independent Federal Election Commission as the sole national authority responsible for managing parliamentary elections. The commission would oversee voter registration, constituency administration, candidate registration, polling operations, vote counting, certification of results, civic education and coordination of election security under uniform national standards.
To strengthen confidence in the electoral process, the framework also recommends creating a permanent Electoral Dispute Resolution Commission to independently adjudicate disputes related to voter registration, candidate eligibility, polling irregularities, vote counting and election results. Its decisions would be subject only to the appellate jurisdiction of Somalia’s Supreme Court.
The council further proposes making the 30% women’s parliamentary quota a binding national commitment rather than a political aspiration. It calls on political parties, federal institutions, traditional leaders and electoral bodies to adopt practical safeguards ensuring women secure at least 30% representation in both the House of the People and the Upper House.
The document concludes by urging all political stakeholders to implement the framework through dialogue, consensus and constitutional mechanisms, while committing to respect electoral outcomes and reject violence or unconstitutional actions as instruments of political competition. It says the proposed model is intended to provide the political foundation for Somalia’s transition to credible, peaceful and inclusive parliamentary elections.