Somalia Elections

On 17 September 2020, Somali leaders agreed on an indirect election model to be used for the country's upcoming elections, similar to the process used in 2016. Parliamentary elections were due to be completed by 28 December 2020, and presidential elections on 8 February 2021, but the consensus over the electoral process had begun to fray. A number of issues remain unresolved, which could further delay or delegitimize the electoral process. These include the composition of election management bodies, voting for seats allocated to Somaliland and election procedures in Jubbaland. On 17 December 2020, the Rift Valley Forum, in collaboration with Heinrich Boll Foundation, hosted an online event to explore these issues. The forum was moderated by Peter Chonka, lecturer at Kings College. Mahad Wasuge discussed the proposed electoral model and the changes from the 2016 model. Dr. Hodan spoke about women's participation in dialogues leading to the ‘Mogadishu Model’ and the space for women in electoral bodies and institutions, notably the challenge of financing female candidates in Somalia.