The Republic of Somaliland Council of Ministers, Thursday, infused a fresh breath of life to the nation’s politics by unanimously passing a draft bill which, for the second time in five years, proposes quotas for women and minorities in the lower house of the bicameral parliament.
The new law, if it passes the floor of the incumbent memebers of parliament, will, for the first time, see women taking not less than 18 seats, 18 per cent of total, in the 82-memeber House of Representatives.
Three seats, one of whom will be among the eighteen earmarked for women, will go to the Gabooye minority clan. The Gabooye, among a number of clans recognized as minorities who, through sheer numbers, had been defeated in elections members ran on their own merit in the past.
The country’s six electoral regions will each elect three women MPs from a roster of female runners who will only compete among themselves.
“As women have in the past failed to defeat men in the field because of a number of reasons, the only way they can have a fair representation in parliament will be to set aside a quota membership,” the President expalined.
Introducing the Bill, His Excellency the president, Musa Bihi Abdi, warmly thanked the National Electoral Commission, the Solicitor General’s office, the civil society, the Cadeny for Peace and Development, lobby groups and all who have taken part in bringing the bill to this stage.
Speaking to members fo the media ather office, later, Shukri Haji Bandare, one of two full female ministers among the current ministerial line-up, welcomed the move.
“Se hoped and campaigned for 30%, but we are happy with the proposed 20% which is morethan satisfactory. This provides a strong foothold up the ladder,” she said.
The Council of ministers, during the same session, also voted on a merged copy of the old Political Associations registration and Election draft bills.
The women and minorities proposed quota membership has failed to pass the HoR during the tenure of the preceding government. This time around, analysts, believe the Bill stands a stronger, fighting chance.
