NIEC, UNSOM and International Partners held an information sharing meeting on elections in Mogadishu on 17th December 2019.
The meeting was meant to take stock of the 2020 election preparedness, what has been achieved, what is yet to be achieved and the challenges and constraints that lies ahead.
The meeting is held once every month and brings together election stakeholders to deliberate on the way forward.
NIEC Chairperson Ms. Halima Ismail gave an update of the Commission’s efforts to ensure Somalia’s multi-party democracy is feasible.
The Chair mentioned to the delegates the recent meeting the Commission had with the Electoral security taskforce committee on Nov 21 and the Commission’s meeting with Parliament to update them as the country gears up for 2020 universal suffrage elections.
Ms. Ismail indicated to Parliament that the Commission has laid a roadmap for the conduct of the elections and that implementation lies with the adoption of the electoral law currently before them.
The Commission stressed on the need of an electoral model that is easy to work with and which will ensure the conduct of One person One vote elections.
Ms. Ismail, in her speech to Parliament, underscored the importance of ensuring the rights of women, PWDs and minority groups are upheld.
The Chair also mentioned to the stakeholders and delegates present that the Commission’s offices in all the Federal member states are operational.
She asserted that the Office of the registrar of Political parties has so far temporarily registered 63 Political parties.
The Chair also gave an update on the recent workshops held for Women and Political parties in South west state and Galmudug.
In her closing remarks, Ms. Ismail thanked the International Partners for their support towards ensuring 2020 Universal suffrage elections is realized.
The Stakeholders pledged their full support to the Commission as it gears up to conduct the forthcoming One person One vote elections