Federal Parliament

of Somalia

The Federal Parliament of Somalia

(Somali: Golaha Shacabka Soomaaliya;
often Baarlamaanka Federaalka
Soomaaliya; Arabic: ‫اﻟﺒﺮﻟﻤﺎن اﻻﺗﺤﺎدي ﻓﻲ‬
‫اﻟﺼﻮﻣﺎل‬, Italian: Parlamento Federale della
Somalia) ) is the national parliament of
Somalia. Formed in August 2012, it is
based in the capital Mogadishu and is
bicameral, consisting of an Upper House
(Senate) and a Lower House (House of
the People). The tenth Parliament of
Somalia was inaugurated on 27
December 2016.[2] Since the
constitutional mandate of the
parliamentarians ended on December 27,
2020, Somalia now has no legitimate
representative federal parliament. [3]
 Federal Parliament of Somalia
Baarlamaanka Federaalka
Soomaaliya
‫اﻟﺒﺮﻟﻤﺎن اﻻﺗﺤﺎدي ﻓﻲ اﻟﺼﻮﻣﺎل‬
10th Somali Parliament

Type

Type Bicameral

Houses Upper house

(Senate)
Lower house (House
of the People)

History
Founded 20 August 1956
Leadership

Speaker Mohamed Mursal

Sheikh Abdurahman
since 27 December
2016

First Deputy Speaker Abdi Wali Ibrahim Ali

Sh Mudey
since 27 December
2016

Second Deputy Mahad Abdalle Awad

Speaker since 27 December
2016

Seats 275

Elections

Voting system Indirect first-past-the-

post

Last election October and

November 2016
Next election January 2021
Meeting place

Mogadishu, Somalia

Website

www.parliament.gov.so

Footnotes

Since the constitutional mandate of the

parliamentarians ended on December 27,
2020, Somalia now has no legitimate
representative federal parliament. [1]

Establishment

Post-transition Roadmap …
As part of the official "Roadmap for the
End of Transition", a political process
devised by former Prime Minister
Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gaas which
provides clear benchmarks leading
toward the establishment of permanent
democratic institutions in Somalia by late
August 2012,[4] members of Somalia's
then ruling Transitional Federal
Government (TFG) and other
administrative officials met in the
northeastern town of Garowe in February
2012 to discuss post-transition
arrangements. After extensive
deliberations attended by regional actors
and international observers, the
conference ended in a signed agreement
between TFG President Sharif Sheikh
Ahmed, Prime Minister Ali, Speaker of
Parliament Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden,
Puntland President Abdirahman
Mohamed Farole, Galmudug President
Mohamed Ahmed Alim and Ahlu Sunna
Waljama'a representative Khalif
Abdulkadir Noor stipulating that: a new
225 member bicameral parliament would
be formed, consisting of an upper house
seating 54 Senators as well as a lower
house; 30% of the National Constituent
Assembly (NCA) is earmarked for
women; the President is to be appointed
via a constitutional election; and the
Prime Minister is selected by the
president, who would then name a
council of ministers.[5][6]

On 23 June, TFG and regional leaders

approved a draft constitution after
several days of deliberation.[7] The
National Constituent Assembly, which
consists of 30 elders drawn from each of
the country's four major Somali clans
(Darod, Dir, Hawiye, Rahanweyn) and 15
from a coalition of minority groups based
on the 4.5 power-sharing formula,[8]
overwhelmingly passed the new
constitution on 1 August. 96% of the 645
delegates present voted for it, 2% against
it and 2% abstained.[9][10] To come into
effect, it must be ratified by the new
parliament.[11]

Technical Selection Committee …

Mohamed Osman Jawari, Speaker of the Federal

Parliament.

On 18 August 2012, a list of 202 new

parliamentarians was released,[12] with a
total of 215 legislators eventually sworn
in on 20 August. A further 15 nominated
lawmakers were approved by the
Technical Selection Committee (TSC),[8]
an independent body officially tasked
with vetting the applicants.[12] However,
verification of their paperwork was still
pending before they could be officially
sworn into parliament.[8]

The remaining candidates that were

submitted by the National Constituent
Assembly's elders to the TSC were
rejected for failing to meet specific
criteria agreed upon by stakeholders that
partook in earlier agreements, including
the Galkayo and Garowe Principles
accords. The minimal selection criteria
required potential MPs to be Somali
nationals possessing a "sound mind", to
have at least a high school diploma,[12] to
be capable of carrying out parliamentary
duties, and to have no reported links with
warlords, rebels, armed groups and other
potential spoiler elements.[13] The TSC
also based its screening procedure on
detailed background information on the
parliamentary candidates that was
forwarded to it by the United Nations and
African Union.[13]

Inauguration …

The inaugural session of parliament was

held on 20 August 2012, at the
Mogadishu airport since the main
parliament building was undergoing
renovations. The outgoing President,
Prime Minister and Speaker of
Parliament all attended the ceremony in
the capital, which witnessed the
swearing in of most of the MPs and the
selection of a new interim Speaker.[14]

10th Parliament (2016) …

The tenth Parliament of Somalia was

inaugurated on 27 December 2016.[2]

In a statement to the United Nations

Security Council, Michael Keating,
Special Representative and Head of the
United Nations Assistance Mission in
Somalia (UNSOM), noted that the Upper
House of Parliament had come into
existence, comprising 54 members
chosen on the basis of federal member
state rather than clan; the electorate had
expanded from 135 male elders in 2012,
to more than 13,000, 30 per cent of
whom were women; and voting had
taken place in six locations around the
country, reflecting emerging State
structures.[15]

Speaker of Parliament
On 20 August 2012, former Somali
National Army (SNA) General Muse
Hassan Sheikh Sayid Abdulle was
appointed Interim Speaker and Acting
President.[16] Voting for a new Speaker of
Parliament was held on 28 August 2012,
with former Minister of Transportation
and Minister of Labor and Sports
Mohamed Osman Jawari elected the
permanent Speaker.[17] Jaylaani Nur Ikar
and Mahad Abdalle Awad are serving as
his First Deputy Speaker and Second
Deputy Speaker, respectively.[18]

Duties
The Federal Parliament of Somalia
constitutes the legislative branch of
government, with the Federal
Government of Somalia representing the
executive division.
The parliament elects the President,
Speaker of Parliament and Deputy
Speakers. It also has the authority to
pass and veto laws.[8]

In addition, the national parliament is

tasked with selecting the ultimate
number and boundaries of the
autonomous regional states (officially,
Federal Member States) within the
Federal Republic of Somalia.[19][20]

On 2 April 2014, the parliamentary

committee of interior and security
announced that it would soon establish a
committee to oversee the federalism
process in Somalia's constituent
provinces.[21]
Composition

Parliamentary consultant Hodan Ahmed.

The Federal Parliament of Somalia is

bicameral, consisting of an Upper House
and a Lower House (House of the
People).[8] It includes many professionals
and university graduates.[14] At least 30%
of seats are legally reserved for women,
a quota secured by Somali parliamentary
consultant Hodan Ahmed and women
political leaders.[22] Ahmed had also
helped form the Somali Women
Parliamentary Association in 2009 in the
preceding Transitional Federal
Parliament.[23]

An official list of Members of the Federal

Parliament was first published on 17
August 2012 by the Office of the Somali
Parliament.[16]

Senate …

The Senate, or Upper house, was elected

during Somali parliamentary election
held on 2016 and it contains 54
senators.[24]
House of the People …

The House of the People, or lower house,

is eventually expected to comprise 275
MPs.[8]

Youth Parliament …

In December 2014, the first Somali Youth

Parliament was established. It comprises
275 youngsters between the ages of 16
and 30, who were selected from local
universities. Members are tasked with
spearheading national development
initiatives.[25]

Committees
The Federal Parliament has a number of
committees, which are tasked with
carrying out its duties. They include:[26]

Oversight, Review and Implementation

Committee
Rules of Procedure, Ethics, Discipline
and Immunity Committee
Judiciary, Religious Sites and Religious
Affairs Committee
Internal Affairs, Regional
Administration and Security
Committee
Truth, Reconciliation and Restitution
Committee
Committee on Budget, Finance,
Planning, International Cooperation
and Financial Oversight of Public
Institutions
Foreign Affairs Committee
Defence Committee
Human Rights, Women and
Humanitarian Affairs Committee
Social Services Development
Committee
National Resource Committee
Information & Media, Public
Awareness, Culture Post and
Telecommunication Committee
Committee for Roads, Ports, Airports,
Energy and Transport
 Committee for Economy, Trade and
Industry

In March 2015, the Federal Cabinet

agreed to establish a new commission
tasked with overseeing the
nationalization and integration of
security forces in the country.[27]

List of Parliaments
1st Somali Parliament (1956–1959) –
majority party : Somali Youth League
2nd Somali Parliament (1959–1964) –
majority party : Somali Youth League
3rd Somali Parliament (1964–1969) –
majority party : Somali Youth League
4th Somali Parliament (1969–1970) –
majority party : Supreme Revolutionary
Council
5th Somali Parliament (1980–1986) –
majority party : Supreme Revolutionary
Council
6th Somali Parliament (1986–1991) –
majority party : Supreme Revolutionary
Council
7th Somali Parliament (2000–2003) –
majority party : none
8th Somali Parliament (2004–2012) –
majority party : none
9th Somali Parliament (2012–2016) –
majority party : none
 10th Somali Parliament (2016–2020)
– majority party : none

Voting system
Article 47 of the Provisional Constitution
stipulates that "the regulations
concerning[...] elections at the Federal
Government level[...] shall be defined in
special laws enacted by the House of the
People of the Federal Parliament of
Somalia."[28]

Tenure
According to the Office of the Somali
Parliament, sitting legislators are
mandated to serve from 2016 to 2020.[16]
The Parliamentary term elapsed on 27
December 2020, with the election date
yet to be announced.[29]

Memberships
The Federal Parliament of Somalia is a
member of the Inter-Parliamentary Union
(IPU), the international organization of
parliaments.[30]

2020 Parliamentary
Elections
Since the constitutional mandate of the
parliamentarians ended on December 27,
2020, Somalia now has no legitimate
representative federal parliament. [31]
See also
Cabinet of Somalia
Judiciary of Somalia
List of Speakers of the Parliament of
Somalia

Notes
1. "Resignation of President Farmajo is the
right option before Somalia falls apart" .
Horn Observer. 3 January 2021.
2. "Somalia swears in 283 members of
parliament" . UNSOM. 27 December
2016. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
3. "Resignation of President Farmajo is the
right option before Somalia falls apart" .
Horn Observer. 3 January 2021.
4. Ahmed, Muddassar (8 August 2012).
"Somalia rising after two decades of civil
war and unrest" . Al Arabiya. Archived
from the original on 9 August 2012.
Retrieved 9 August 2012.
5. Somalia Garowe conference comes to a
close Archived 12 June 2012 at the
Wayback Machine
6. Second Garowe Conference Concludes
Archived 27 December 2014 at the
Wayback Machine
7. "Somalia: Somali Leaders Adopt Draft
Constitution" . ANP/AFP. Retrieved
23 June 2012.
8. "Somalia swears in historic new
parliament" . Al Jazeera. 20 August 2012.
Retrieved 21 August 2012.
 9. "Somalia adopts a constitution, amidst
insecurity" . Garowe Online. 1 August
2012. Archived from the original on 7
August 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
10. "Somalia's newly-endorsed constitution
widely hailed" . Xinhua. Archived from the
original on 7 October 2013. Retrieved
2 August 2012.
11. "Somali leaders back new constitution" .
BBC. 1 August 2012. Retrieved 2 August
2012.
12. "Somalia: List of new parliamentarians
leaked" . Archived from the original on
22 November 2012. Retrieved 24 August
2012.
13. "Somalia: Committee excludes warlords,
rebels and armed groups from Federal
Parliament" . Archived from the original
on 18 August 2012. Retrieved 24 August
2012.
14. "Somalia: UN Envoy Says Inauguration of
New Parliament in Somalia 'Historic
Moment' " . Forum on China-Africa
Cooperation. 21 August 2012. Retrieved
24 August 2012.
15. "Election of New Parliament 'a Milestone'
in Somalia's Post-conflict Transformation,
Special Representative Tells Security
Council" . ReliefWeb. 27 January 2017.
Retrieved 30 January 2017.
16. "Office of the Somali Parliament" . Office
of the Somali Parliament. Archived from
the original on 14 July 2012. Retrieved
24 August 2012.
17. "Somali Parliament Elects Speaker for
New Gov't" . Voice of America. 28 August
2012. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
18. Mohamed, Mahmoud (29 August 2012).
"Somalia successfully concludes first
elections in over 20 years" . Sabahi.
Retrieved 30 August 2012.
19. "The Federal Republic of Somalia –
Harmonized Draft Constitution" (PDF).
Federal Government of Somalia. Archived
from the original (PDF) on 20 January
2013. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
20. "Guidebook to the Somali Draft
Provisional Constitution" . Archived from
the original on 14 August 2013.
Retrieved 2 August 2012.
21. "Parliamentary interior committee" .
Goobjoog. 2 April 2014. Archived from
the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved
3 April 2014.
22. "April 12–13, 2013 – Preliminary
Program" (PDF). McDonough Leadership
Center. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
23. "Hodan Ahmed" . National Democratic
Institute. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
24. "Tenth Parliament of Somalia" . Archived
from the original on 4 April 2017.
Retrieved 17 January 2017.
25. "Benadir administration welcomes the
formation of national youth parliament" .
Goobjoog. 15 December 2014. Retrieved
15 December 2014.
26. "Committees" . Federal Parliament of
Somalia. Archived from the original on
22 October 2014. Retrieved 27 October
2014.
27. "Somali Cabinet Ministers agree financial
management committee to work
temporarily" . Goobjoog. 19 March 2015.
Retrieved 21 March 2015.
28. "The Federal Republic of Somalia –
Provisional Constitution" (PDF). Federal
Government of Somalia. Archived from
the original (PDF) on 24 January 2013.
Retrieved 16 September 2012.
29. "Somali parliament's tenure elapses
without clear future plan" . Garowe. 28
December 2020.
30. "Somalia (House of the People)" . Inter-
Parliamentary Union. Retrieved
6 September 2013.
31. "Resignation of President Farmajo is the
right option before Somalia falls apart" .
Horn Observer. 3 January 2021.

External links
Federal Parliament of Somalia –
Official website
Chiefs of State and Cabinet Members
of Foreign Governments – Somalia
Inter-Parliamentary Union – Somalia
(House of the People)
Retrieved from
"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?
title=Federal_Parliament_of_Somalia&oldid=1008
127513"

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