Somalia introduces directly elected lawmakers

Somalia’s government has said its new constitution will introduce direct elections for members of parliament, reports Africa News and agencies on March 5th.

Lawmakers are currently selected through a system where clan elders and regional leaders elect MPs, who then vote for the president. The process has been used since the beginning of the civil war and the collapse of the central government.

However, questions remain over Somalia’s ability to organise nationwide elections. The country continues to face an insurgency by the Al-Qaeda-affiliated group Al-Shabaab and logistical challenges linked to limited infrastructure. Political divisions with regional administrations have also complicated the process.

Africa News and agencies, Maghrebi.org