Somalia’s South West State completed elections for 69 seats in the House of the People today, becoming the second federal state to do so after Jubbaland.            

The last day of voting saw the reelection of two former members of parliament (MPs), Hassan Maalim Hussein and Hussein Mohamud Sheikh.

Speaking after the conclusion of the process, State Indirect Electoral Implementation Team (SIEIT) Chairman Mohamed Abdullahi Mursal commended all persons who made the exercise in South West State successful.

“This was a very long journey. We are very satisfied with the manner in which these elections have occurred since it was the first election of this type to happen in Somalia,” Mr. Mursal said.

All of Somalia’s five major clans participated in the voting in South West, which was allocated the highest number of seats in the House of the People among federal states nationwide The United Nations and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) played an important role in ensuring the electoral process in the federal state was successful.

“I thank the United Nations, AMISOM and all the partners who offered their unrelenting support during the electoral process,” Mr. Mursal added.

In his victory speech, Mr. Sheikh, the current Minister of Constitutional Affairs, thanked his Dabarre clan for re-electing him.

“It is the fifth time I am representing my community in the House of the People. I hope to provide services to my people in South West and the people of Somalia in general,” the MP-elect observed.

Vikram Parekh, Head of the Baidoa office of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), described the process as an important accomplishment for the Somalia.

“I think this is an important step for Somalia and for the South West. The most important thing is that this process passed peaceably,” Mr. Parekh added.

AMISOM and Somali security forces worked closely to ensure the safety of delegates and election officials involved in the process.

“Security has been near perfect because right from the planning process up to today, the 69 members of parliament have been elected without any serious security problem,” said AMISOM Senior Superintendent of Police John Ambayo, who is also a member of the joint security task force.

Issa Abdirahman Ibrahim, one of the young delegates who participated in the voting, described the 2016 electoral process as a foundation for the continued participation of young Somalis in the affairs of the country.

“We need young politicians who we understand. Elders have dominated the political scene. We need change,” observed Mr. Ibrahim, who voted for one of the women candidates for seats in the lower chamber of Parliament.

He described the elections as inclusive, noting that both the youth and women were involved in the electoral process.

Fourteen women won election to the lower chamber of Parliament in South West state, giving them a 20 per cent share of the total number of seats at stake.  

The electoral college delegate Sahra Hassan Ali agreed with Mr. Ibrahim, saying young members of parliament have the ability and zeal to solve the country’s problems.                                                    

“Young female MPs have a role in the development of the country. I am satisfied with how things were managed for the youth. The electoral process has some inclusivity,” said Ms. Ali.