Mogadishu - The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties was inaugurated today with a mandate to oversee the process of registration of political parties in the country, according to Article 47 of the Federal Provisional Constitution.

The establishment of the Office marks a departure from the election of representatives through the clan system, to a more inclusive system of political parties. The system guarantees participation of every individual who subscribes to a political party.

“The office that is going to make our dream come true, is the office of the registration of political parties,” Ms. Halima Ibrahim, the Chairperson of the National Independent Electoral Commission (NIEC) remarked during the inauguration ceremony.

NIEC had also announced on 21 May 2017 the appointment of the Registrar, Mr.  Mohamed Omar Mohamud.

“It is a huge responsibility and the only way we can fulfil it is by working together,” said the Registrar of Political Parties.

His immediate task will be to activate the Political Parties Act passed in June 2016, and embark on activities that include overseeing the registration of political parties. The process requires political parties to submit required documentation for scrutiny by the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties, before they are registered. The NIEC will work with the Registrar’s Office to manage the process.

“After almost half a century, we are doing registration of political parties and opening an Office to register political parties that are going to lead this country to peace and democracy,” remarked Ms. Fawzia Yusuf H. Adam, a Member of the Federal Parliament and Chairperson of the National Democratic Party.

“We have got the party registration forms in our hands and I am truly happy this morning. It’s up to us now to fast track the process of registration,” Mr. Kamal Gutale, the Chairperson of Wadajir Party, added. 

The United Nations, through its Integrated Electoral Support Group, continues to support Somalia in preparing for universal “one person, one vote” elections by 2020. The creation of the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties by the NIEC, the national institution constitutionally mandated to conduct elections, is a key step forward for future universal elections in Somalia, a process supported by the United Nations.