Today, Somalia’s Upper House, or the Senate, voted unanimously to approve the Election Bill. The vote is significant considering the country will organize its elections this year.
By voting for the bill without much opposition, the country’s politicians have proved that they are ready to guide Somalia towards the long awaited for universal suffrage elections.
On Saturday, 27 senators voted to pass the legislation. Six other senators rejected the bill, while none abstained.
Senate appointed a special parliamentary committee to review the bill. The committee then presented its views to parliament.
The next step is to forward the bill to President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo for assent. Once he assents to the bill, it officially becomes law.
The Horn of Africa nation has collaborated with several international partners to prepare for the upcoming universal suffrage polls urgently.
This year will mark the first time Somalia holds such elections following years of political instability, violent conflicts, clan-based wars, and dysfunctional government.
The last time Somalia held one-person-one-vote elections was in March 1969 when a bloodless military coup overthrew the then government.