Protocol Establishing the Somali New Federal Parliament

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Country/entity: Somalia
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Protocol Establishing the Somali New Federal Parliament
Date: 22 Jun 2012
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/intrastate conflict
Somali Civil War (1991 - )
Originally spurred by centre-peripheral tensions, fighting broke out in 1981 between the regime of President Said Barre and the Somali National Movement, a militia primarily consisting of members from the northern Ishaq clan. Fighting intensified in the late 1980s as more clan-based militias arose. President Barre’s regime collapsed in late 1991 and as a result the UN intervened. However persistent attacks on the UN’s forces forced a withdrawal in 1994. From the mid- to late 1990s, the character of the conflict shifted as warlords fought for access to rents. Also during this period, two different peace agreements arose; the Sodere Declaration, which was mediated by Ethiopia and supported by IGAD, and the Cairo Accord, which was brokered by Egypt. Fighting, already noticeably lessened compared to the early 1990s, decreased and the more amicable environment paved the way for the Transitional Government to be formed in 2000 (replaced in 2004 by the Transitional Federal Government).

Nonetheless, opposition to the TFG arose in the form of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU), which by early 2006 had taken control of most of southern Somalia until they were ousted by an armed intervention by Ethiopia in December 2006. As a result, the ICU splintered. Hard-line ICU members formed the Takfiri organization, Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen, and launched a guerrilla campaign against the TFG. Another faction of the ICU fled to Djibouti and formed the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia, which was absorbed into the ruling TFG after successful negotiations in 2007.

To deal with the new round of fighting, the UN-mandated AMISOM force was deployed in 2007. Since then, insecurity has fluctuated between the urban and rural areas as the al-Shabaab's territorial gains waver. Local militia leaders maintain de facto governance over communities. From 2009 to 2012, insecurity spilled over into the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean when Somali pirates seized, looted and ransomed ships. In 2014, 'Operation Indian Ocean' was launched and in parallel with infighting among al-Shabaab, the organisation's position in Somalia has diminished slightly. However, as evidenced by large-scale attacks by al-Shabaab in northern Kenya throughout 2013-2015, the lack of security continues to destabilize the region. Al-Shabaab continues to launch surprise attacks with the aim of forcing out foreign military presence in Somalia. Targets include both military forces and civilians. The devastating attack in October 2017 in Mogadishu saw 587 fatalities and resulted in a renewed military offensive by the Somali government and African Union allies. Since 2017, the U.S. has increased its air strikes targeting al-Shabaab militants, and in December 2018 they announced to re-establish a permanent diplomatic mission in the country. Al-Shabaab has been characterized as a spoiler in the Somali peace process and have therefore been placed outside of any negotiations.
Stage: Implementation/renegotiation
Conflict nature: Government/territory
Peace process: Somalia Peace Process
Parties: President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia; Honourable Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden, Speaker of the Transitional Federal Parliament; Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali; President Abdirahman Mohamed Mohamoud ‘Farole’ of Puntland; President Mohamed Ahmed Alin of Galmudug; and, representatives of Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a.
Third parties: The meeting was facilitated by the United Nations under the auspices of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, Ambassador Augustine P. Mahiga.
Description: The agreement implements previous commitments made by the signatories and sets out the terms for the establishment of the New Federal Parliament.

Agreement document: SO_120622_ProtocolFederalParliament.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Main category: Page 2, ARTICLE 2 Establishment and Selection Process of the New Federal Parliament, 5. The Traditional Leaders shall consult with their clans and shall nominate 225 members for the House of the People of which at least 30 percent shall be women and 54 members for the Upper House of the New Federal Parliament based on the regional representation stipulated in Article 2.3.

Page 3, Article 3, New Federal Parliament Members, 1. The House of the People shall comprise 225 members of whom at least 30 percent must be women.

... 5. The Traditional Leaders, supported by the Technical Selection Committee who vets nominees, and in consultation with their clans and with different sectors of Somali civil society, including religious leaders, intellectuals, youth, women, and business people, shall select the members of the New Federal Parliament from among persons whom the Technical Selection Committee has vetted.

Women, girls and gender

Participation: Participation→Gender quotas
Page 2, ARTICLE 2 Establishment and Selection Process of the New Federal Parliament, 5. The Traditional Leaders shall consult with their clans and shall nominate 225 members for the House of the People of which at least 30 percent shall be women and 54 members for the Upper House of the New Federal Parliament based on the regional representation stipulated in Article 2.3.

Page 3, Article 3, New Federal Parliament Members, 1. The House of the People shall comprise 225 members of whom at least 30 percent must be women.
Participation→Effective participation
Page 3, Article 3, New Federal Parliament Members,
... 5. The Traditional Leaders, supported by the Technical Selection Committee who vets nominees, and in consultation with their clans and with different sectors of Somali civil society, including religious leaders, intellectuals, youth, women, and business people, shall select the members of the New Federal Parliament from among persons whom the Technical Selection Committee has vetted.
Equality: No specific mention.
Particular groups of women: No specific mention.
International law: No specific mention.
New institutions: No specific mention.
Violence against women: No specific mention.
Transitional justice: No specific mention.
Institutional reform: No specific mention.
Development: No specific mention.
Implementation: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Protocol Establishing the Somali New Federal Parliament

Adopted June 22, 2012

The Somali Roadmap Signatories, committed to facilitating the implementation of their previous agreements adopted at Kampala, Mogadishu, Garowe and Galka’yo and Addis Ababa, carrying out the directions given by Decree of the President on June 22, 2012, hereby adopt the following Protocol to establish the Constituent Assembly referred to in that Decree.

ARTICLE 1

The New Federal Parliament

This Protocol establishes the New Federal Parliament.

ARTICLE 2 Establishment and Selection Process of the New Federal Parliament

The New Federal Parliament shall comprise of a Lower House termed the House of the People and an Upper House.

The House of the People shall consist of 225 members.

During the first term of the new Federal Parliament, the composition of the Upper House shall be formed on the basis of the 18 Regions based on the regional demarcations before 1991 until such time as present and future federal states form.

The Upper House during its first term shall consist of a maximum of 54 members.

The nominations for the New Federal Parliament shall comply with the selection criteria and other requirements stated in in this Protocol and the companion Protocols.

The Technical Selection Committee will assist the Traditional Leaders as determined by the Protocol Establishing the Technical Selection Committee June 22, 2012.

The Traditional Leaders shall consult with their clans and shall nominate 225 members for the House of the People of which at least 30 percent shall be women and 54 members for the Upper House of the New Federal Parliament based on the regional representation stipulated in Article 2.3.

In the event that the Technical Selection Committee determines that a nomination or nominations do not conform to the objective selection criteria, the name or names will be sent back to the Traditional Leaders and a new candidate or candidates must be submitted so as to complete the process as stipulated by the Addis Ababa Communiqué.

The finalized and fully vetted nomination list of the New Federal Parliament shall be published by the Technical Selection Committee in accordance with the Addis Ababa Communiqué.

ARTICLE 3

New Federal Parliament Members

The House of the People shall comprise 225 members of whom at least 30 percent must be women.

The Upper House of the New Federal Parliament shall comprise no more than 54 members, which should represent the 18 regions based on the regional demarcations before 1991 on an equal basis.

Each member of the New Federal Parliament shall be selected and appointed by the Traditional Elders , based on the 4.5 formula, and each must––

a) Be a Somali citizen;

b) Be aged between 25-75 year;

c) Have a minimum secondary school education;

d) Not have a criminal record;

e) Not be declared mentally incompetent;

f) Must respect Islamic values;

and

g) Must have relevant experience.

Collectively, the New Federal Parliament must be inclusive, broadly representative and generally reflect the composition of Somali society.

The Traditional Leaders, supported by the Technical Selection Committee who vets nominees, and in consultation with their clans and with different sectors of Somali civil society, including religious leaders, intellectuals, youth, women, and business people, shall select the members of the New Federal Parliament from among persons whom the Technical Selection Committee has vetted.

The Technical Selection Committee’s functions in relation to the nomination of the New Federal Parliament are stated in Protocol Establishing the Technical Selection Committee.

Any dispute during the selection process for members of the New Federal Parliament shall be referred to the Elders Arbitration Board for resolution as set forth in the Addis Ababa Agreement.