Somalia's Frayed Democracy

Somali Institutions, particularly electoral authorities and courts have become battle grounds and face enormous political pressure, complicating their administration and adjudication of elections. The opposition rarely has good options: compete in unfair conditions and legitimize the vote; or boycott, a strategy that rarely serves its interests over time. Facing uphill battles, some struggle to remain united. Others adopt rejectionist tactics.

One person one vote is a constitutional right in which citizens can elect and be elected. law states creation of constituencies and allocation of seats can not be based on clan. Otherwise, certain number of clan-designated constituencies will be allocated to each area or district. People from only one clan can compete for the allocated seat, while the rest of the people in that area can only vote.

Throughout the world, candidates in one person one vote election compete to represent the place they live and area of their residence. It is not lawful to say that while you reside and live in one area, you can only be contested where your ancestors came from. For what reason?

For example, I was born and raised in Bulaburte, and I currently live in Benadir. The electoral law tells me that my ancestors came from in Dusamareb, and I can only seek to represent Dusamareb. Same goes for President Farmajo, who was born and lives in Banadir, but his ancestors hails from Abud Waq, therefore his seat will be taken to Abudwaq in Galgudud.

And members of one clan can reside in several areas, how would seats be allocated to them? Does the power of allocation reside with parliament or the clan?

There is nothing wrong with parliament allocating seats, but allocation must be based on population in each constituency. However, if the election is based on clan, then the right to allocate seats should belong to the clan.