ELECTIONS 2016A CALL TO ACTION

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March 31st, 2015

Dear Forum Members, Our Beloved Somali People, Well-Wishers, Partners and

Supporters:

We are pleased to present to you the Forum for Unity and Democracys document, titled

Elections 2016 A Call to Action.

The Elections 2016 A Call to Action proposes Proportional Representation (PR), an election

model which provides a unique solution for our democratic transition in 2016, despite the

challenges of social fragmentation, scarce security apparatus, undefined and non-demarcated

constituencies with disputed population estimates, and large refugee and diaspora communities.

The Forums Elections 2016 A Call to Action - calls on all Somalis, political parties, civil society

organizations and the Federal Government of Somalia to support free and fair elections in 2016

using the PR model. The Forum also calls on our Federal Parliament to adopt a PR election model,

so that we have a legitimate legislature and executive that reflect the diversity and political

preferences of all Somalis no later than September 2016. Finally, the Forum calls on our Federal

Parliament to timely enact the necessary legislations and institutional arrangements required for

elections in 2016.

This is the first step towards free and fair elections in 2016.

Sincerely,

Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed

President of the Forum for Unity and Democracy

ELECTIONS 2016

A CALL TO ACTION (No. 1)

Somalia

31st of March, 2015

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Why Are Elections in 2016 Essential for Our Country?

After more than two decades of civil conflict, our country is at a turning point. Somalis are yearning for democracy. Somalis rightfully want to participate in the management of their affairs. Without this participation, our people will not believe and trust their political leaders and institutions. Women and the youth who represent the bulk of our society have long been marginally engaged in the governance of their country.

Since the establishment of a Transitional Government in 2000, there has been a need to create an inclusive and representative government, accountable to its citizens and founded on the principles of democracy. The establishment of the Federal Republic of Somalia in August 2012 was of a great significance as it marked the end of the transitional era. Despite this, the legitimacy of state institutions in Somalia remain questionable.

The Somali people inside and outside the country are united in their desire to be governed only by their democratically elected representatives. The Forum for Unity and Democracy believes that only urgent restoration of participatory democracy, social justice, good governance and the rule of law by a representative government can establish and safeguard unity and peace and stability in our country.

In order to restore legitimacy and stability necessary for nation-state building, it is important that Somalia holds free and fair elections in 2016. Delay in establishing a legitimate and stable state structure beyond September 2016 will prolong the present uncertainty and instability. Elections have the potential to contribute to the restoration of unity, peace and stability in Somalia, as well as conveying legitimacy on the new Federal Government institutions.

What Model of Elections Best Suits Our Unique Condition?

After thorough consultations, discussions and analysis with experts and stakeholders on electoral systems, the Forum for Unity and Democracy has come to an understanding and conclusion that elections in 2016 are implementable through a Proportional Representation (PR) electoral system.

PR is an electoral system in which the distribution of seats corresponds closely with the proportion of the total votes cast for each party. PR offers alternatives to first past the post and other majoritarian voting systems based on single-member electoral areas, which tend to produce disproportionate outcomes and to have a bias in favour of larger and more powerful political groups. In a country that is fresh from conflict and where arms are readily available, disproportionate election results would reinforce existing divisions and may instigate civil strife. The PR system offers better and wider representation ensuring inclusion of smaller parties and groups thus minimizing discontent with election results.

The PR model is fundamentally different from the National Conference model adopted in 2012, which was a selection process by traditional elders. The PR model will empower all Somali citizens to participate as voters and candidates, whereas the National Conference model was constituted using a caucus of only 135 elders. By contrast, the PR model will be organized following the principle of universal suffrage (one person, one vote) through a secret ballot.

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For a fragmented society such as ours, ensuring the election of a broadly representative legislature should be the crucial consideration. The PR model is designed to produce a legislature that is representative of all walks of society. This model will reflect clan, regional and gender diversity in our governance system.

Within the PR system, a number of alternative ways of implementing the model have been examined. Experts have recommended the highest priority be given to the selection of a PR system that is simple to understand and operate a criterion that is especially important for transitioning democracies such as ours. From that simplicity criterion, multimember national constituency has been viewed as the preferred option. The experts and stakeholders have also recommended a closed-PR party lists, in which voters mainly choose parties instead of individual candidates, as to encourage the formation and maintenance of strong and cohesive political parties pursuing nation building and unity.

Why the PR Model?

Following state collapse and over twenty-plus years of anarchy, our country is characterized by social fragmentation, scarce security apparatus, undefined and non-demarcated constituencies with disputed population estimates, and large refugee and diaspora communities. These conditions make it difficult for the majoritarian model to be implemented. Compared to alternative systems, the PR model provides the solution to free and fair elections in 2016 as it has the following features that answers to the unique circumstances:

Inclusive:

In the transition to democracy, the main purpose for the representatives of the people, both the Upper House and the House of the People, has been to form a constituent assembly. The legitimacy of these houses depend heavily on broad inclusiveness and representation of interests from the different segments of society. The PR system is the most effective in gaining inclusive representation for a range of groups, rather than a winner-take-all system (plurality-majority systems), where more politically and financially dominant groups can secure an overwhelming majority.

All Votes Count:

The PR system allows every vote to truly count. No vote will go to waste and all votes are weighted equally.

Simple and Transparent:

The PR system allows a voter to cast one vote, which simplifies the voting process and the voter education requirements and creates a more transparent system. The simplicity of the system also makes it more operationally feasible to implement and practically avoids delays. In addition, the PR system is the most cost-effective in comparison to other systems. Hence, the PR model will allow us to meet the September 2016 election deadline.

No Population Census and Demarcation of Districts Required:

The PR system can be implemented on a single national constituency without necessarily having census data and the demarcation of boundaries. This avoids the lengthy and controversial exercise to determine sub-national electoral districts. The PR system also minimizes difficulties and controversies of population movement within the country.

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Ideal for Women, Youth and Minorities:

The Provisional Constitution defines the importance of the inclusion of women, youth and minorities in the political system. The PR system accommodates this goal for achieving fair representation of women, youth and minorities, as they will be able to vote collectively from around the country for the party lists that include representatives from their groups. If the elections were conducted under a majoritarian election system, more powerful contenders would marginalize them.

Encourages Coalition-Building and Moderate Positions:

The PR system encourages political groups to form alliances around the country and appeal to as many clan and special interest constituencies as possible. Similarly, this need to appeal to differing constituencies tends to moderate a groups position and minimizes intra- and inter clan, group and constituency conflict.

Least Vulnerable to Security Problems:

The national constituency of the PR system permits candidates to campaign with less disruption caused by localized violence or insecurity. By being placed on a national ballot, the effectiveness of targeted political violence against candidates is minimized. Similarly, lists of candidates reduce the ability to individually target and intimidate.

Most Accommodating to Diaspora and Refugee Voting:

Somalia has one of the largest refugee and diaspora communities in the world. The PR system accommodates a practical response to out-of-country voting. A national constituency permits out-of-country voters to participate in the process, as their vote does not have to be counted and located towards a sub-national geographical area. Further, with the PR system logistics to manage diaspora and refugee voting will be simplified.

A Call to Action!

Somalis now firmly understand that it is their fundamental and inalienable right to elect their representatives and leaders. With the present security, political and social conditions, the PR system is the only implementable option for 2016 elections allowing Somalis in country and abroad to elect their representatives and leaders.

The PR system ensures all walks of the Somali society including women, youth, the disabled and minorities are fairly represented in our public institutions.

With the above, we, the Forum for Unity and Democracy,

Call on all Somalis, political parties, civil society organizations and the Federal Government of Somalia to support free and fair elections in 2016 using the PR model.

Call on our Federal Parliament to adopt a PR election model so that we have a legitimate legislature and executive that reflect the diversity and political preferences of all Somalis no later than September 2016.

Call on our Federal Parliament to timely enact the necessary legislations and institutional arrangements required for elections in 2016.