Somalia's Cabinet approved a bill that, if approved by parliament, would return the country's electoral system to universal suffrage for the first time in decades, ending the process of indirect voting, Reuters reported, citing BTA, citing the spokesman the government.
Amid widespread insecurity caused by the Islamist insurgency and weak state structures, in recent years lawmakers voted for the president, while clan chiefs and elders chose lawmakers in both the federal government and regional parliaments.
The country was originally scheduled to switch to direct voting in 2020, but ongoing disputes between politicians and continued insecurity in the country forced the government to retain indirect voting.
"The rules for conducting elections will lead the country to the principle of "one person - one vote". on a national scale," government spokesman Farhan Jimale said in a statement. "(It) will give citizens the right to vote and elect for the first time in 55 years. This is a historic day", he specified.
The desire for change was announced last year by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who was elected by MPs to a five-year term in 2022. However, implementing the changes faces significant logistical and security challenges due to the lack of infrastructure and the threats, coming from the Islamist armed group "Al-Shabaab", which controls large areas of the country, notes Reuters.