Elections in Somalia
Encyclopedia
The Somalian state only has loose governmental structures with "no effective central government" since 1991. Political parties
organized based strictly or primarily on political beliefs don't play much of a role; instead, there is a strong sense of ethnic identity and clan-based organization
. The Transitional Federal Government
is the internationally recongnized government, but only governs a small part of the country. Heads of state are elected by the Transitional Federal Parliament
(TFP).
s in Somalia. The interim TFP of 275 members was selected in 2004, with each of Somalia's four major clans getting 61 seats in the parliament, and an alliance of minority clans given 31 seats. These seats were selected by traditional clan leaders, such as in shura
councils, or were chosen for their office because they were powerful de facto leaders such as warlord
s or businessmen. Once appointed, the Parliament then voted, as a representative body for Somalia, to elect President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed
. Somalia therefore is a representative democracy
and technically a republic
, but has not yet held any general elections.
Many of the present political parties are, or until recently also were militia
groups often aligned with clan structures or were supporters of warlord
s, and often violently active in the Somali Civil War
, such as two factions of the United Somali Congress
(USC), the Somali National Movement
(SNM), the Somali Democratic Movement (SDM) and the Somali Patriotic Movement
(SPM). Women were represented by the "Sixth Clan
" movement of Asha Haji Elmi
. Some agenda-based (rather than clan-based) political movements also exist, such as Green Leaf for Democracy (GLED).
Political Parties
Political Parties: A Sociological Study of the Oligarchical Tendencies of Modern Democracy is a book by sociologist Robert Michels, published in 1911 , and first introducing the concept of iron law of oligarchy...
organized based strictly or primarily on political beliefs don't play much of a role; instead, there is a strong sense of ethnic identity and clan-based organization
Tribalism
The social structure of a tribe can vary greatly from case to case, but, due to the small size of tribes, it is always a relatively simple role structure, with few significant social distinctions between individuals....
. The Transitional Federal Government
Transitional Federal Government
The Transitional Federal Government is the current internationally recognized government of the Republic of Somalia. It was established as one of the Transitional Federal Institutions of government as defined in the Transitional Federal Charter adopted in November 2004 by the Transitional...
is the internationally recongnized government, but only governs a small part of the country. Heads of state are elected by the Transitional Federal Parliament
Transitional Federal Parliament
The Transitional Federal Parliament of the Somali Republic is an interim Parliament of Somalia formed in neighboring Kenya in 2004.The Transitional Federal Parliament has 550 members representing Somalia's clans, Islamist opposition, representatives of citizens' groups and the Somali...
(TFP).
Transitional Federal Government and indirect presidential elections
There have been no direct electionElection
An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy operates since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the...
s in Somalia. The interim TFP of 275 members was selected in 2004, with each of Somalia's four major clans getting 61 seats in the parliament, and an alliance of minority clans given 31 seats. These seats were selected by traditional clan leaders, such as in shura
Shura
Shura is an Arabic word for "consultation". The Quran and Muhammad encourage Muslims to decide their affairs in consultation with those who will be affected by that decision....
councils, or were chosen for their office because they were powerful de facto leaders such as warlord
Warlord
A warlord is a person with power who has both military and civil control over a subnational area due to armed forces loyal to the warlord and not to a central authority. The term can also mean one who espouses the ideal that war is necessary, and has the means and authority to engage in war...
s or businessmen. Once appointed, the Parliament then voted, as a representative body for Somalia, to elect President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed
Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed
Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed is a veteran Somali politician. He is one of the founders of the Somali Salvation Democratic Front, as well as the Puntland State of Somalia, where he served as the autonomous region's first President...
. Somalia therefore is a representative democracy
Representative democracy
Representative democracy is a form of government founded on the principle of elected individuals representing the people, as opposed to autocracy and direct democracy...
and technically a republic
Republic
A republic is a form of government in which the people, or some significant portion of them, have supreme control over the government and where offices of state are elected or chosen by elected people. In modern times, a common simplified definition of a republic is a government where the head of...
, but has not yet held any general elections.
Many of the present political parties are, or until recently also were militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
groups often aligned with clan structures or were supporters of warlord
Warlord
A warlord is a person with power who has both military and civil control over a subnational area due to armed forces loyal to the warlord and not to a central authority. The term can also mean one who espouses the ideal that war is necessary, and has the means and authority to engage in war...
s, and often violently active in the Somali Civil War
Somali Civil War
The Somali Civil War is an ongoing civil war taking place in Somalia. The conflict, which began in 1991, has caused destabilisation throughout the country, with the current phase of the conflict seeing the Somali government losing substantial control of the state to rebel forces...
, such as two factions of the United Somali Congress
United Somali Congress
The United Somali Congress is one of the major political and paramilitary organizations of Somalia. Formed in 1988, it played a key role in the ouster of the government of Siad Barre, and became a major target of the so-called Operation Restore Hope campaign in 1993...
(USC), the Somali National Movement
Somali National Movement
The Somali National Movement was a 1980s-1990s Somali rebel group. Founded and led by Isaaq members to protect the clan's interests, it was key in the formation of Somaliland, a self-declared sovereign state that is internationally recognised as an autonomous region of Somalia.-Formation:In April...
(SNM), the Somali Democratic Movement (SDM) and the Somali Patriotic Movement
Somali Patriotic Movement
The Somali Patriotic Movement is a political party and paramilitary organization in Somalia, and a key faction in the Somali Civil War. Commanded by Aden Abdullahi Nur Gabyow, it was based in the southwestern area of the country, and had considerable influence in the leaderless country...
(SPM). Women were represented by the "Sixth Clan
Sixth Clan
The Sixth Clan is a women's network active in Somali politics founded by Asha Haji Elmi. The name stems from the fact that traditionally Somalia's society is said to consist of five major clans...
" movement of Asha Haji Elmi
Asha Haji Elmi
Asha Haji Elmi is a peace activist in Somalia who won the Right Livelihood Award in 2008, with three other activists from India, USA and Germany. In September, 2009, she was one of five recipients of the Clinton Global Citizen Award.-Biography:Asha was born in Somalia in 1962...
. Some agenda-based (rather than clan-based) political movements also exist, such as Green Leaf for Democracy (GLED).
Direct elections
In 2009, the TFG was tasked with passing a constitution and organizing presidential and parliamentary general elections in August 2011. However, as of April 2011 a constitution had yet to be passed and the date and scope of potential presidential elections was not clear. The TFP voted to extend its term by three years beyond the original August 2011 expiration of their mandate, and the TFG followed suit with a one year extension to its own term. Both groups condemned the actions of the other. The speaker of parliament continued with preparations for the presidential election in spite of the uncertainty. The delay has received criticism from the United Nations, United Kingdom and the United States, with the situation being called a "constitutional crisis" by the U.N.'s Somalia representative, Augustine P. Mahiga. As of April 2011, the government of Somalia has rejected all efforts by the international community aimed at ensuring the elections go forward.See also
- Electoral calendar
- Electoral system
- Somali presidential election, 2009Somali presidential election, 2009An indirect presidential election was held in Somalia on 30 January 2009. Due to the security situation in Baidoa, it was held in Djibouti.- Background :...