Bridging Tradition and Democracy

Gurmad Qaran Position Paper on Hybrid Electoral Model

Somalia stands at a critical stage in its democratic political transition. The constitutional deadline of 15 May 2026 for holding elections has elapsed without political agreement, leaving the country in a constitutional and political limbo. As competing electoral visions continue to prolong divisions, the need for nationally accepted pathway has become increasingly urgent.

This Gurmad Qaran position paper first assesses Somalia’s previous electoral models and building on their incremental foundations, proposes Bridging Tradition and Democracy, hybrid electoral framework that thoughtfully integrates Somalia’s traditional clan-based structures with democratic and civic principles as a step closer to universal suffrage.

Gurmad Qaran is proposing two options: (1) Clan-level seat allocation based on a rotational principle, followed by competitive candidate selection within the designated clan segment (Jifo), with the candidates securing the majority of votes then presented to district voters for direct election and (2) This option preserves all official House of the People (HoP) seat designations while establishing direct citizen representation. Eligible candidates contest specific seats, and citizens directly elect their preferred representative, with the candidate receiving the most valid votes declared the winner.