Friday, December 09, 2016
As the 2016 Somalia Parliamentary election results streamed in from across the regions new faces and old faces in the politics of the horn of Africa country emerged as winners in a poll that has turned out to have its fair share of surprises
Somalia lawmakers raise their hands during a confidence vote on Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, at the Parliament Building in Mogadishu, Somalia. AP
It has emerged that the 275 member Lower House and the 54 member Upper House is going to be made up of MPs from different background and experience .
From former warlords to renowned entrepreneurs, Islamists to Musicians, activists, a Fashion designer to a returning refugee this may well be the most diverse parliament in Somalia's history.
One of the surprise wins was that of young Fashion designer Muna Khalif Sheikh popularly known as Muna Kay. Muna Kay was much publicized in the local and international media after she won a seat in the Lower House to represent South West state . She is a well known fashion designer and entrepreneur with outlets in North America, Dubai and East Africa. Born in Somalia Muna Kay and family fled to the US where she grew up and later started her fashion design business. Muna Kay is new in politics as this is her debut in to the Somalia politics.
Muna Kay may be a green horn in the politics of the horn of Africa country but she will find herself in debates with old hands in Somali politics.
It is clashes sometimes triggered by warlords like Bootan Isse that saw thousands of Somalis flee to seek refuge in neighbouring Kenya which hosted refugees in the Dadaab Refugee Camp the largest in the world.
Ironically this arid camp has produced an MP who will be sharing the platform with ex warlords, singers and Islamists in the next parliament. Little known 31 year old Abdullahi Sheikh Abbas fought it over against Information Minister Mohamed Abdi Hassan to win a seat as a federal MP representing Jubaland.
Abbas is a returning refugee who was grew up and educated in Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya's North Eastern region.
He is one of the youngest politicians in the next Parliament and has had no previous experience in politics. Political analysts attribute the young politician's win against a high profile politician to the sympathy that has been showered on returning refugees in Jubaland.
Another old hand in Somalia politics making a come back to share forum with new faces will be Ahmed Moalim Fiqi who has served as the Director of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) and one of the founder of Al-sheikh Islamist Group. He is also the Secretary General of the Daljir Party (XD) and a seasoned diplomat having served as an ambassador to the Sudan from 2010-201. He also vied for Galmudug presidency.
Activist Sagal Abdirazak Isak Bihi will be making a debut in to Somalia politics representing Jubaland. Bihi a former director of AMISOM's Radio Bar Kulan has been vocal on youth and women rights and actively campaigned to have parliament pass a 30% threshold for women votes in the Somalia elections. She holds a Masters Degree in Project Management and has worked with several Government departments as an advisor.
Bihi vows to continue to champion the cause for women and the youth in her term as an MP.
The next Parliament will also be graced by one of the most established entrepreneurs in Somalia among them is Said Nur Garish the co-founder of Jubba Airways one of Somalia's premier private airlines that continues to enjoy a lion share of passenger and cargo air transport since Somali Airlines became defunct in 1991. He will be representing Galmudug.
Another notable big time entrepreneur who will be making his presence in the next parliament felt is Ducale Islow. Islow a multimillionaire contractor has made fortune in his business through contracts with AMISOM, international organizations and the Somali government.
It is a Parliament that many Somalis are looking forward to see how the politicians with different backgrounds and experience will be able to add to a nation that is still emerging from more than two decades of civil war.
And with this mix analyst not only foresee more dramatic parliamentary sessions but also challenges ranging from differing political ideologies, vested interests and experience as activists, businessmen, ex warlords, musicians, fashion designers, returnees all find themselves sworn to debate matters that will charter this horn of Africa country to a better tomorrow for the ordinary citizen.