Global Integrity Report

Somalia Home

Facts

Timeline

Notebook

Integrity Scorecard

2008 Assessment

Somalia: Integrity Indicators Scorecard

Somalia : Integrity Scorecard Report > Sub-Category: Voting & Citizen Participation
Indicators		Score
14	Is there a legal framework guaranteeing the right to vote?	100
15	Can all citizens exercise their right to vote?	25
16	Are citizens able to participate equally in the political process?	55

Indicator and sub-Indicator Details

Is there a legal framework guaranteeing the right to vote?

14a: In law, universal and equal adult suffrage is guaranteed to all citizens.

Score:

YES

Comments: Article 8 states: "Right to Vote: 1. Every citizen who possesses the qualifications required by law shall have the right to vote."

Article 51 states: "The national assembly shall consist of deputies elected by the people by universal, free, direct and secret ballot and deputies as of right."

References: Article 8.

Article 51.

14b: In law, there is a legal framework requiring that elections be held at regular intervals.

Score:

YES

Comments: Article 52 states: "Term of Office and Elections: I. Each legislature shall be elected for a period of five years starting from the proclamation of the electoral results. Any modification of this term of office shall have no effect on the duration of the legislature during which such decision is taken."

Article 17 states: "The term of office of the president shall be six years form the date of his taking oath."

References: Article 52.

Article 17.

Can all citizens exercise their right to vote?

15a: In practice, all adult citizens can vote.

Score:

100

Comments: In recent years, the people have not had free elections held in their country. All citizens can vote, but there have not been free and fair election for the last two decades.

Somalia did not have an active Government after the ouster of Siad Barre.

References: Maxamed Nuur Warsame, Professor, Somali University (Somali University Campus, Aug. 11, 2008).

15b: In practice, ballots are secret or equivalently protected.

Score:

100

Comments: Article states: "The president of Republic shall be elected by a secret ballot, by National Assembly, with the majority of two-thirds of its members in subsequent ballots."

References: Muuse Cali Cumar, Member of Parliament (Bay Region, Aug. 4, 2008).

Article 70 the Constitution in 1960, paragraph 2.

15c: In practice, elections are held according to a regular schedule.

Score:

100

Comments: Elections are not held on a regular schedule because Somalia has not had an active government since the ouster Siad Barre in 1991.

Usually, elections are held after a reconciliation, which the representatives of all the Somali tribes reached and signed together.

References: Maxamed Nuur Warsame, Professor, Somali University (Somali University Campus, Aug.11, 2008).

Are citizens able to participate equally in the political process?

16a: In law, all citizens have a right to form political parties.

Score:

YES

Comments: Article states: "1. The Transitional Federal Government shall encourage the formation of political parties in the Republic save that it shall be in accordance with the law.'

References: The Right to Establish Political Parties.

16b: In law, all citizens have a right to run for political office.

Score:

YES

Comments: Article 21 para 6 states: . "All Citizens possessing the qualifications required by law have the right to vote and be elected to Public Office."

Para 2 states: "The political parties shall be open for all citizens and be guided by General Principles of Democracy."

References: article 21, para 6.

Article 21, para 2.

16c: In practice, all citizens are able to form political parties.

Score:

100

$Scoring Criteria :: 100 Score Criteria: While there is no guarantee of electoral success, political parties can form freely without opposition. <p>50 Score Criteria: Some barriers to formation are present, such as burdensome registration requirements that may not be fairly applied. Some parties\' political viewpoints may draw pressure from the government, such as surveillance or intimidation. Some political parties or organizations may have extra barriers to getting on a ballot. <p>0 Score Criteria: Some political parties are effectively barred from forming through some manner of official or unofficial pressure. This may include threats, arrest, or violence from competing parties or other groups.$

Comments:

References: Maxamed Nuur Warsame, Professor, Somali University (Somali University Campus, Aug.11,2008).

Muuse Cali Cumar, Member of Parliament (Bay Region, Aug. 4, 2008).

Article 12, para 1: "Every citizen shall have the right to associate in political parties without previous authorization for the purpose of co-operating democratically and peacefully in the shaping of national policy."

16d: In practice, all citizens can run for political office.

Score:

100

Comments: In the last decades, there have been no any effective political parties that can discuss political issues, but there are clan representatives who claim to be political leaders.

References: Abdi Aaadn Foodadde, Director General of Ministry of Labour (Naasa Hablood Hotel, Aug. 5, 2008).

Interview with a professor who wishes to remain anonymous.

16e: In practice, an opposition party is represented in the legislature.

Score:

100

$Scoring Criteria :: 100 Score Criteria: The opposition party always has some influence on the proceedings of the legislature. The opposition party can introduce legislation or bring pending matters to a vote without the consent of the ruling party. <p>50 Score Criteria: The opposition party has influence on the proceeding of the legislature, but it is limited in scope. The opposition\'s ability to force votes or publicly debate certain topics may be limited. <p>0 Score Criteria: The opposition party has only token participation in the legislature\'s proceedings and cannot advance legislation or force a debate.$

Comments: The government has no opposition members, but there is armed opposition fighting everywhere in the country.

References: Abdi Aaadn Foodadde, Director General of Ministry of Labour (Naasa Hablood Hotel, Aug. 5, 2008).

Interview with a professor who wishes to remain anonymous.