Somalia’s opposition-aligned Future Council, a coalition bringing together the Puntland and Jubbaland regional administrations, members of the Salvation Forum and international partners, has proposed a new election framework aimed at resolving the country’s prolonged political impasse.
The proposal emerged following a meeting attended by representatives of the European Union, the United Nations, the United States and the United Kingdom, according to sources familiar with the discussions.
The Future Council said it had formally submitted an electoral plan known as the “Expanded Indirect Election” model, which it described as a democratic, transparent and inclusive framework designed to allow Somali citizens to elect their representatives.
Under the proposal, parliamentary elections would ultimately transition to a direct voting system in which citizens elect lawmakers. Elections would be held in four designated districts within each federal member state, with voting centres located in regional capitals.
The plan also calls for the establishment of a national electoral commission comprising representatives from both the federal government and federal member states. The commission would oversee all stages of the electoral process and make decisions through majority voting.
Each seat in the lower house of parliament would be assigned to a specific constituency, referred to as a SEEJO, with clearly defined boundaries, registered local voters and competing candidates.
The proposal rejects the political party framework introduced under President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration and instead advocates retaining Somalia’s clan-based 4.5 power-sharing formula. Voters would register and cast ballots within constituencies linked to their traditional clan representation.
To reduce the risk of electoral fraud, the plan calls for biometric voter registration while maintaining paper ballots and ballot boxes rather than electronic voting systems. Voter registration would take place nationwide over a period of between five and ten days.
Candidates would be permitted to appoint representatives to monitor voter registration, voting and vote counting processes and would be entitled to receive official copies of election results.
According to the proposed timetable, the electoral process would begin with the announcement of an election date, followed by preparations for polling stations and staff training. Voter registration, candidate registration and election campaigning would then take place over a period of several weeks before a nationwide election day on the 42nd day of the process.
The Supreme Court would serve as the final authority for resolving election disputes, with complaints relating to voter lists, alleged fraud or candidate eligibility required to be adjudicated within 72 hours.
The Future Council also proposed using the framework as a pilot model for regional elections in Hirshabelle and Galmudug, both of which have experienced delays. It suggested those elections be held within three months, while federal-level elections should be completed within six months.
The proposal comes as Somalia faces continued disagreements between the federal government and some regional administrations over the country’s electoral model and the path toward universal suffrage.