CALL FOR CONDEMNATION OF FEMALE MP SEAT OFFERED TO A MAN

 

 

 

To: Leadership of the House of the People of the Federal Republic of Somalia.

Cc: Leadership of the House of Senate of the Federal Republic of Somalia

 

Honorable Leaders, Somali Gender Equity Movement (SGEM) is an organization advocating for the political, social, and economic rights and representation of Somali women. We also work on civic education, peace, security, and reconciliation in Somali society, emphasizing the role women should play. We, the Board of Directors and members of SGEM, consisting of nearly 8,000 Somali women committed to protecting women’s rights, strongly condemn, oppose and are very saddened by the decision to give the seat resigned by Hon. Sahra Colaad to a man.

Honorable Leaders, the women MPs in both houses secured their seats due to the women’s quota of a minimum 30%, established in all political and electoral agreements since 2012 and approved by the parliament. Although the goal of achieving a minimum 30% women quota has not yet been realized, significant efforts have been made by Somali women and civil society in general to accelerate this progress.

Honorable Leaders, we have serious concerns regarding the legal process and the speed with which Hon. Sahra Colaad’s vacated seat was filled. By law, when a Federal Parliament seat is being filled, the National Assembly passes a law and appoints a committee to oversee the process. This task was previously handled by the now-disbanded National Independent Electoral Commission. Therefore, how did the President of Galmudug approve a seat not elected by a constitutional commission/committee, and how did the parliament swear him in? Secondly, with up to five seats in the House of the People remaining vacant for some time, why was the recently vacated seat filled so quickly in the Galmudug Federal Member State?

Honorable Leaders, we are also concerned about the declining number of women MPs in the House of the People, which has decreased from 67 (24%) in the 10th Parliament to 52 (19%) in the 11th Parliament, with one seat still vacant after the death of MP Khadija Mohamed Diriye (May Allah grant her mercy) in December 2023. We fear that just as her Minister position was given to a man, her parliamentary seat may also be offered to a man.

Honorable Leaders, as the legislative body of the country, we urge you to uphold and not undermine the minimum 30% quota for women’s seats in parliament. A seat vacated by a woman should be filled by another woman from her subclan. Somali women, who comprise 50% of the population, must have their rights to political representation protected.

Let unity prevail!

 

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