After weeks of debate, the Somali Federal parliament has unanimously passed the country’s long-awaited national elections bill submitted by the cabinet last year.
113 members of the Parliament voted for the approval of the new bill while 21 rejected. The Parliament session was conducted by the speaker Mohamed Jawari who announced the approval of the bill at the end of the vote.
However, Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud who is out of the country for medical treatment is expected to sign the bill into law upon arriving back.
The new bill establishes a new independent Electoral Commission which will be given overarching responsibility to administer national elections anticipated to be held in 2016.
Analysts and commentators have doubted the possibility of national elections to be held across the country due to the massive work to be done prior to the elections date.
Horseed Media
Somalia Parliament approves new Electoral Commission Bill
Published: February 11, 2015
