Somalia’s Lower House has approved the changes made to the Political Parties Act, which was drafted to streamline how political parties participate in elections.
Nearly all the 137 Members of Parliament (MPs) in the Lower House voted for the changes unanimously. Three MPs dissented while two more abstained.
The Bill’s amendment was one of the key requirements for ensuring that the electoral process proceeds smoothly.
With the passing of this Act, which now moves to the Upper House, the country seems ready to leave the era of clan-based elections and embrace universal suffrage.
A key aspect of the changes on the Political Parties Act is the alignment with the Elections Act, which set the stage for the country to adopt the one-person-one-vote model.