Hanifa Mohamed Habsade, Somalia’s Minister of Women and Human Rights Development, has called for the full implementation of women quota by the Federal Member States (FMS).
The regional states are currently in the middle of holding elections for the Upper House.
One of the regional states – Southwest – has already elected two female senators who will represent its interests in Mogadishu.
Nevertheless, Hanifa believes that more has to be done to ensure that regional states implement the quota system fully.
In the past, Somalia’s efforts at increasing women representation in politics have not borne much success.
However, the country appears ready to finally walk the talk.
According to Hanifa, regional states can implement this system by ensuring that at least one out of every three candidates in the upcoming elections is a woman.
She reiterated her belief that women candidates would win the elusive 30 percent of the seats in the Upper House and House of Representatives (Lower House).
