Mogadishu: A Step Towards Universal Suffrage
In a decisive announcement during an interview with VOA Somali, the Somali Foreign Minister, Ahmed Moalin Fiqi, made a firm commitment: the Somali federal government is poised to hold universal suffrage elections by the year 2026. This promise marks an ambitious step to encompass all regions, including the often-contentious territories of Northeastern State and Jubbaland.
Why is this noteworthy? Let’s rewind a bit. Post-1969, Somali elections have hinged on indirect voting systems. For over fifty years, the people’s voice was primarily funneled through regional intermediaries; a practice viewed by many as antiquated and restrictive. Imagine being part of a society where your neighbor, not your ballot, determines the leadership. This is a practice many have grown weary of. The minister’s declaration came with a fiery resolve. “We are ending the old practice where regional administrations dictate our choices,” Fiqi emphasized with conviction. “The people will no longer be forced into selections against their will. Elections will be held in Northeastern State, Jubbaland and throughout Somalia.”
The notion of one-person, one-vote could seem straightforward to outsiders, but for Somalia, it spells transformative change. This bold endeavor faces pushback. Both Jubbaland and Northeastern State leaders, alongside various opposition factions, have voiced a clamor of resistance. Their primary grievance: a federal approach perceived as unilateral in engineering these elections. Is their skepticism wholly unfounded?
When we dive into Somalia’s rich history, echoes of its last direct election in 1969 emerge—sending nostalgia traveling through corridors of time. That year was significant, not merely marking a procedural change but harboring a vision of democratic engagement. However, as history often is, this path was sidelined, veering towards indirect methods, which became the norm for decades.
“Where there is no vision, the people perish” – Proverbs 29:18. A sobering reminder of the importance of seeing beyond immediate constraints.
What of those who clamor for change? Enter the National Independent Electoral Commission—ushering in a promise to untangle this electoral deadlock. Their goal is not only to facilitate these elections but to set a historic precedent. Similar to a maestro harmonizing a complex symphony, orchestrating an election where Somali citizens can directly choose their leaders poses novel challenges but eventually, harmony brings hope.
As the narrative unfolds, Somalia stands at a crucial juncture. The lingering question is whether a nation accustomed to layered governance structures can transform completely. Societies evolve with brave declarations and cautious first steps. And so, the voices favoring universal suffrage brace for a crucial transition. How profound it is when a country marked by struggle edges closer to truly listening to its people. This journey isn’t just about elections; it’s about sowing the seeds of democratic tradition, once believed impossible, maybe even implausible, by skeptics. Indeed, isn’t democracy itself a testament to the possibility?
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International–Monitoring
