Tuesday, December 20, 2016
A delegate from Somaliland votes during the ongoing electoral process in Mogadishu, Somalia, on December 14, 2016. AMISOM Photo / Ilyas Ahmed
Mogadishu, 20 December 2016 – Somaliland and northern regions have elected seven more candidates to the House of the People in the latest round of voting bringing the total number of representatives to 26.
Six candidates were elected, yesterday, while one was elected last Wednesday. The exercise, which resumed yesterday, had been temporarily halted to allow consultations among electoral officials, delegates and candidates. Somaliland and other northern regions still have 20 more seats to fill for the House of the People and 11 for the Upper House.
Three of those elected in the peaceful exercise, Monday, are women as northern regions made efforts to fulfill the 30 percent women representation quota as required by the Federal Indirect Electoral Implementation Team (FIEIT).
The six are Fadumo Ismail Hussein, Khadra Mohamed Tukale, Suriye Diriye Arab, Ismail Abdirahman Sheikh Bashir, Osman Elmi Boqorre and Abdirahman Ahmed Suge. They join Ahmed Mohamed Jama who won the only contest held last Wednesday.
Mr. Boqorre, a former MP, expressed his satisfaction with the security arrangements for the electoral process and noted that the hall, in which he was elected, was of historic significance to him.
“It was in this hall that a few years ago we passed the Sharia law but came under a mortar attack, causing us to flee. Many people were injured in the stampede that ensued but today, thanks be to Allah, we are having a very peaceful election with nothing to fear,” MP-elect Boqorre said in his victory remarks.
Ms. Hussein, who won after garnering 47 of the votes cast, described the electoral process as free and fair, and praised the decision made by the Somali leadership to uphold the 30 percent women representation quota, which, she noted, had enabled her to become a member of parliament.
Fadumo Ismail Hussein, the winner of a seat in the House of the People for Somaliland, gives a victory speech to delegates during Somalia's ongoing electoral process in Mogadishu, on December 19, 2016. AMISOM Photo / Ilyas Ahmed
“I thank the people who upheld the 30 percent quota representation for women in parliament. The decision was good for women. I hope to actively represent my people in parliament and contribute to the development of the country,” the MP-elect stated.
Mr. Bashir thanked the delegates and saluted his competitors, adding that he had won a tightly contested seat in a free and fair election.
“The election today was free and fair. It was a tough contest that ended in the second round of balloting. I thank the delegates who took part in the exercise and the other candidates who contested with me. They are my brothers. I also congratulate the security institutions that made the election possible,” the MP-elect observed.
Electoral officials count votes during Somaliland's ongoing electoral process in Mogadishu, Somalia, on December 14, 2016. AMISOM Photo / Ilyas Ahmed
In an interview after being declared winner, last week, Mr. Jama, called for unity, noting that it is the only way the country can develop and be self-sustaining in the days ahead.
“I urge all Somalis to unite. We need to be self-reliant because no one will do things for us. I ask my fellow countrymen to work for the unity of this country,” MP-elect Ahmed stated.
Saeed Jama Ali, a member of the Federal Indirect Electoral Implementation Team (FIEIT), noted that the security situation in the city was under control and hailed the election of women, saying it pushed the country closer to achieving the 30 percent quota for women.
A delegate from Somaliland votes during the ongoing electoral process in Mogadishu, Somalia, on December 19, 2016. AMISOM Photo / Ilyas Ahmed
“In the previous parliament we had only 14 percent representation of women in parliament but at the moment, even as the exercise is still going on, we have over 20 percent women representation. This means that we already have a good number of women in parliament and that number is likely rise. The election of the women reflects the good relation that exists between women and their communities,” Mr. Ali observed.
Somaliland and Banaadir are the only regions yet to complete the electoral process. Jubbaland, HirShabelle, South West State, Galmudug and Puntland have filled seats allocated to them in the Upper House and the House of the People.
Ends…