MOGADISHU (Halbeeg News) – A 13-member committee has been tasked with leading the country’s efforts to secure a 30% quota in both houses of parliament, office of the prime minister.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Prime Minister of Somalia, Mohamed Hussein Roble appointed the committee to be chaired by will be led by Ms. Batulo Sheikh Gabale.
Ms. Gabale is also Chairperson of the Somali National Women’s Association. The committee comprises of 12 female and one male member.
Last January, Somali Pm had confirmed that close to a third of Somalia’s parliamentary seats will be reserved for female lawmakers in the upcoming elections.
Roble made the quota pledge after talks with female lawmakers – who currently hold 24% of the 329 seats in Somalia’s lower and upper houses of parliament, according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).
Late June, PM Roble alongside the leaders of the regional states agreed to half the registration fees for women candidates to encourage more participation in the upcoming elections.
It means that female parliamentary candidates will pay $10,000, as opposed to the $20,000 required by the National Electoral Commission for Senate hopefuls, or $5,000 for the Lower House as opposed to $10,000.
The fee itself has been a bone of contention and leaders had asked it to be lowered for all candidates.
Presidential contenders will be required to pay $50,000.
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