FTL Somalia

Mogadishu Agreement on Elections Preserves Women’s Quota of 30 Percent

The agreement signed in Mogadishu on September 17 between Federal Government of Somalia and Federal Member States has reserved a third of the political seats for women.

There had been fears that women would be short-changed in the new deal.

Somalia enacted the 30 percent quota for women’s representation in 2016/17 process of selecting candidates.

However, it had been in place in the previous election cycles though it failed to produce the desired results.

In the early 2000s, Somali women took 8 percent of elective seats around the country. That figure improved to 14 percent in 2012.

Women have consistently fought for increased representation.

Thursday’s deal signed in Mogadishu offers women a chance to get the numbers they have campaigned for vigorously over the years.