Somalia’s Deputy Prime Minister: “Southern Regions Are the Easiest Place for a One-Person, One-Vote Election”

Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia, Salah Ahmed Jama, has expressed confidence in the possibility of holding one-person, one-vote elections in the country, emphasizing that such an electoral system is feasible and practical in the country.

Speaking about the federal government’s plans for universal suffrage, Salah stated that southern Somalia provides the best environment for initiating this democratic process, highlighting the need to move beyond the indirect selection methods that have long shaped leadership appointments in the country.

The Deputy Prime Minister underscored the importance of transitioning away from the clan-based, indirect selection system that has been used for decades in the country .

“We need the one-person, one-vote election to reach every part of the country. I personally believe that the easiest place to conduct such an election is in the southern regions. The much-celebrated electoral processes in the north and Puntland rely on historical precedents, but we’ve seen how they have often been fraught with risks and required elders to mediate crises.” He said

He indicated that the federal government of Somalia remains steadfast in its commitment to conducting public elections, with key frameworks already approved by the 11th Parliament. Additional measures are expected to be submitted soon to facilitate the transition.