Who holds power, 2012 to now
The 2016 Somali parliamentary election
From October 2016 to February 2017 Somalia chose a new two-house Federal Parliament by indirect election. 135 traditional elders selected 275 electoral colleges of 51 delegates each, about 14,000 people in all, who elected the 275 members of the House of the People, with seats shared by the clan-based 4.5 formula. State assemblies elected the 54-member Upper House. The UN reported bribery and intimidation of delegates and ordered re-runs for five seats, but called the vote more peaceful and inclusive than in 2012. Women won 24 percent of lower-house seats.
In short
"Federal parliamentary elections were launched on 15 October" 2016, the UN Secretary-General reported. "Notwithstanding delays and cases of malpractice, including bribery and intimidation of delegates, the electoral process was more peaceful and inclusive than in 2012" (UN Security Council, S/2017/21, paras. 2–3).
"In February, the electoral process for the 329 Members of the House of the People and the Upper House of the Federal Parliament was completed" (S/2017/408, para. 23). The new Parliament then elected the President. See the 2017 presidential election.
Why an indirect vote
"As one-person, one-vote elections are not yet possible, an electoral process has been developed to facilitate a more participatory process in 2016, compared to 2012, and to advance towards universal suffrage by 2020," the UN mission in Somalia (UNSOM) explained (UNSOM, Somalia 2016 Electoral Process). The mandates of the Parliament and President ended in 2016 under the Provisional Federal Constitution (same source).
The model "emerged from 18 months of public consultations and political negotiations" (S/2017/21, para. 21). The National Leadership Forum, "comprising federal and regional leaders", set its rules (same source, para. 3).
How it worked
From the UNSOM fact sheet (UNSOM):
- House of the People. Its 275 seats were "again distributed in accordance with the clan-based 4.5 power-sharing formula". "135 Traditional elders will select the members of 275 electoral colleges. These electoral colleges, each of which will consist of 51 delegates, will then elect the 275 members."
- Delegates. Elders chose them "in consultation with sub-clan elders", to "represent all sub-clans sharing the respective seat". Each college of 51 needed "at least 16 women and 10 youth". The planned total was 14,025 delegates.
- Upper House. A new chamber representing the federal member states. State executives nominated at least two candidates per seat, and state assemblies elected the members, "with special arrangements for Benadir and Somaliland".
- Candidates. Any citizen of the sub-clans sharing a seat, aged at least 25 with a high-school education or equivalent. The registration fee was $5,000 for men and $2,500 for women.
- Where. Voting took place in Garowe, Adado, Kismayo, Baidoa and Jowhar, and in Mogadishu for the Banaadir and Somaliland seats.
- Who ran it. A 22-member Federal Indirect Electoral Implementation Team, with state-level teams and an independent dispute resolution team.
The fact sheet's allocation of House of the People seats:
| State | Seats | Polling place | Delegates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puntland | 37 | Garowe | 1,887 |
| Galmudug | 36 | Adado | 1,836 |
| Jubaland | 43 | Kismayo | 2,193 |
| HirShabelle | 37 | Jowhar (tentative) | 1,887 |
| South West | 69 | Baidoa | 3,519 |
| Somaliland | 46 | Mogadishu | 2,346 |
| Banaadir | 7 | Mogadishu | 357 |
| Total | 275 | 14,025 |
Compared with 2012
The UN listed what was new (S/2017/21, para. 21): "codes of conduct, secret ballots and the establishment of ad hoc implementation and dispute resolution bodies", "an expanded electorate, the conduct of elections around the country for the first time in almost 50 years and the election of an upper house on the basis of geographical, not simply clan, representation". In 2012, 135 elders had chosen a single-house parliament, with voting only in Mogadishu and no secret ballot (UNSOM). See the 2012 presidential election.
The vote
- 15 October 2016. Voting began (S/2017/21, para. 2).
- Malpractice. "Verified cases of electoral malpractice prompted the Forum to order re-runs for five parliamentary seats" (same source, para. 3). The Secretary-General added that "not all reported cases of misconduct were adequately addressed, including the protection of seats reserved for women" (para. 75).
- Violence. Militias backing rival lower-house candidates clashed in Baidoa on 29 October and 12 November. In Cadaado, clan tensions led to a civilian being shot dead by a Somali soldier. There was sporadic gunfire during polling in Garowe on 5 November (para. 12).
- 27 December. "The new Federal Parliament was inaugurated" in a joint session. By 31 December, 43 of 54 Upper House members and 258 of 275 House of the People members had been elected (para. 2).
- Cost. $14 million: "60 per cent was covered by international donors, 10 per cent by the Federal Government and 30 per cent by candidate registration fees" (para. 3).
The new Parliament
From the UN Secretary-General's report of May 2017 (S/2017/408, paras. 2, 5 and 23):
- Speakers. Mohamed Sheikh Osman Jawari was re-elected Speaker of the House of the People on 11 January 2017. Abdi Hashi Abdullahi was elected Speaker of the new Upper House on 22 January. See Speakers of Parliament.
- Voters. "Approximately 13,000 appointed clan delegates elected their representatives to the Federal House of the People in the state capitals and Mogadishu."
- Who won. "Women constitute 24 per cent of the House of the People, a significant increase from the 14 per cent of the previous Parliament. Overall, more than 50 per cent of the Members of Parliament are new. About 18 per cent of the elected Members are under 35 years old."
- Women's target. The Forum had set a 30 percent target for women; the result fell short of it (S/2017/21, paras. 3 and 46).
See the Federal Parliament and elections in Somalia.
Who suffered?
- Clan elders and delegates. "Suspected Al-Shabaab operatives gunned down six clan elders and two electoral delegates on 20 October, 2, 6, 9 and 29 November and 11 and 28 December" (S/2017/21, para. 7).
- Women candidates. "Female candidates and advocates faced threats and intimidation. They also cited corruption as an issue negatively affecting the ability of women to stage successful candidacies" (same source, para. 47).
- People in Mogadishu. Al-Shabaab "stepped up the use of car bombings" during the electoral period. On 11 December a minivan exploded at the port, "killing more than 35 people" (same source, para. 7).
- A civilian in Cadaado, shot dead by a soldier amid clan tensions over the vote (same source, para. 12).
Sources differ
- How many delegates. The UNSOM fact sheet planned 14,025. The Secretary-General's reports give "close to 13,000" and "approximately 13,000" who voted.
- Peaceful or flawed. The UN called the process "more peaceful and inclusive than in 2012" while recording "bribery and intimidation of delegates" and misconduct not "adequately addressed".
Read the primary sources yourself
Sources
- UN Security Council, S/2017/21, paras. 2–3 · documents.un.org
- S/2017/408, para. 23 · documents.un.org
- UNSOM, Somalia 2016 Electoral Process · unsom.unmissions.org
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Where it happened
- Muqdisho (Mogadishu) and BanaadirMogadishu (Muqdisho) is Somalia's capital and makes up the Banadir region, with about 2.97 million people in 20 districts.
- Garoowe (Garowe) and NugaalNugaal is the region around Garoowe (Garowe), Puntland's capital, with about 656,910 people in three districts.
- Dhuusamarreeb (Dhusamareb) and GalgaduudGalgaduud is a region of central Somalia in Galmudug State, with Dhusamareb (Dhuusamarreeb) as its capital and about 845,000 people.
- Jowhar (Johar) and Middle ShabelleMiddle Shabelle is the farming region along the Shabelle river north of Mogadishu, with Jowhar as its capital and about 1 to 1.26 million people.
- Baydhabo (Baidoa) and BayBay is a farming region in South West State, with Baidoa (Baydhabo) as its main city and about 1.25 to 1.8 million people.
- Kismaayo (Kismayo) and Lower JubaLower Juba is the far southern region on the border with Kenya, with the port city of Kismayo (Kismaayo) as its capital and about 1.2 million people.
Same era
- Australia18,401 people of Somali ancestry and 8,101 born in Somalia lived in Australia at the 2021 Census, more than half in Victoria. History, work, issues.
- Birmingham (Somali diaspora)About 17,000 to 21,600 Somalis live in Birmingham (Census 2021), mostly in Nechells, Newtown, Small Heath and Alum Rock. History, work, health and ties home.
- Bristol (Somali diaspora)9,167 people in Bristol identified as Somali or Somalilander in Census 2021, the city's largest minority group. Where they live, work, housing, leaders and ties home.
- Calgary, Alberta, Canada2,845 people of Somali origin lived in Calgary at the 2021 Census, plus 890 in Brooks. How they came, who serves them and what they face.
- Denmark (Somali diaspora)21,885 people of Somali origin lived in Denmark in 2026, half born there. Numbers, history, work, permit reviews, and ties home.
- DjiboutiAbout 13,900 refugees from Somalia live in Djibouti (Aug 2026): numbers since 1990, Ali Addeh, Holl-Holl, the 2017 refugee law, Arta 2000 and 2025 returns.
Keep reading
- The 2012 Somali presidential electionThe 2012 presidential election: the end of the transition, the 275 MPs chosen by elders, the vote of 10 September, bribery claims, and the new government.
- The 2017 Somali presidential electionThe 2016–2017 election: delegates and the new two-house Parliament, the vote of 8 February 2017 at the airport, Farmaajo's win, bribery claims and the cost.
- The 2017 Somaliland presidential electionSomaliland's 2017 presidential vote: the delays, the iris-scan register, the three candidates, results, the social media ban, the Burao shootings and the dispute.
- The 2021 Somaliland parliamentary and local electionsSomaliland's joint parliamentary and local council elections of 31 May 2021: the delay since 2005, the results, the opposition majority, women, and what observers found.
- The war in Somalia, 2009 to nowThe war since 2009: al-Shabaab and Hizbul Islam against the government and AU troops, the 2011 Mogadishu withdrawal and famine, Kismayo, the 2022 offensive and 2025.
- The 2022 Somali presidential electionThe 2021–2022 election: the expired term, the April 2021 extension and fighting, the delegate vote, the three rounds of 15 May 2022 and the result.