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Somalia

Upper House

Political system

Political systems: Presidential, Parliamentary, Presidential-Parliamentary, Monarchy, Communist, Transitional.

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Presidential system

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Structure of parliament

Structure of parliament: Unicameral, bicameral

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Bicameral

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IPU membership

Current membership status

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Yes

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About parliament

Basic information such as the official name of parliament and details of its structure and leadership. Also includes the current breakdown of MPs by sex and age, and provisions for quotas and reserved seats.

Parliament name
Federal Parliament
Chamber name
Aqalka Sare (Upper House)

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Structure & status of parliament

This field is to indicate lower/upper in the back end.

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Upper chamber
Parliamentary term (years)

Length of the parliamentary term in years

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5

Notes:

In accordance with the amendments to the 2012 provisional constitution, adopted by Parliament in March 2024, the parliamentary term has been extended from four to five years.
The new parliamentary term has been applied to the current legislature. Its term, started in April 2022, will thus continue until April 2027, instead of 2026.
The next parliamentary elections will be held in 2026, before the expiry of the current legislature, under what is known as the three-party system: the three parties that win the most seats in the local elections will contest the parliamentary elections.

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IPU membership

Affiliation periods
from 1963 to 1969
from 1980 to 1990
from 2006 to 2008
from 2013
IPU Geopolitical Group/s

IPU Geopolitical Groups: African Group, Arab Group, Asia-Pacific Group, Eurasia Group, Group of Latin America and the Caribbean (GRULAC), Twelve Plus Group.

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African Group

Speaker

Official title

The Speaker may for example be known as the Presiding Officer, President, Chairman/Chairperson, etc.

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Speaker of the Upper House
Speaker
Abdi Hashi Abdullahi (Male)
Date of birth: 01 Dec 1946
Term

Start (and end) of the term of the Speaker

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22 Jan 2017
Additional information

Elected on 22 Jan. 2017, re-elected on 26 Apr. 2022.

Speaker terms

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Secretary general

Official title

This post is most commonly called Secretary General or Clerk. It may also be called Secretary, Head/Chief of the Secretariat, Director General, etc.

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Secretary General
Secretary General
Abdinasir Ibrahim Guled (Male)
Term

Start (and end) of the term of the Secretary general

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11 Dec 2022
Notes

Additional information about the Secretary General, in particular regarding their term.

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Appointed on 11 Dec. 2022.

Members

Statutory number of members

Statutory number of members, as defined in the constitution or other fundamental law.

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54

Notes:

Indirectly elected by state assemblies.

The Upper House shall comprise no more than 54 members drawn from: the 18 regions that existed in Somalia before 1991; the current number of federal member states in Somalia. All federal member states shall have an equal number of representatives in the Upper House.

Three seats are reserved for the clans of Sool, Eastern Sanaag and Buuhoodle. One of those seats belongs to minorities in the clan areas.

Two further seats are reserved for the Somaliland communities.

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Principal mode of designation of members
Indirectly elected

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Indirectly elected members

Indirectly elected, for example by regional parliaments or an electoral college.

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54
Current number of members

Number of members who currently hold seats in parliament. May be lower or higher than the statutory number of members.

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54

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Men

The number of male parliamentarians who currently hold seats in parliament.

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40

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Women

The number of female parliamentarians who currently hold seats in parliament.

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14

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Percentage of women

Calculated by dividing the current number of women by the current number of members.

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25.9%

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Statutory number of members per country

As defined in the constitution or other fundamental laws. Combines the number of parliamentarians in both chambers in bicameral parliaments.

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329

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Population (in thousands)

Source: United Nations, World Population Prospects.

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18,358

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Inhabitants per parliamentarian

Calculated by dividing the population by the statutory number of parliamentarians.

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55,799

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Age

Data on the age of parliamentarians is collected at the start of the legislature, following the most recent elections. This data is not updated during the legislature, except when parliament notifies the IPU of a change in the youngest or oldest member.

Average age of all members

Average age of members, for which data is available, at the time of the last election or renewal.

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No information available

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Number of members, by age

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Breakdown of members by age and gender
18 - 20 21 - 30 31 - 40 41 - 45 46 - 50 51 - 60 61 - 70 71 - 80 81 - 90 91 and over Totals per gender
Male No information available
Female
Total <= 45: - Total >= 46: -
Percentage of members, by age
Age at the last election or renewal Overall Male Female Other
Percentage of MPs 30 years of age or younger

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 - - - -
Percentage of MPs 40 years of age or younger

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 - - - -
Percentage of MPs 45 years of age or younger

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 - - - -
Members for whom data is available

Number of members, at the start of the legislature, for whom age data is available

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Click for historical data

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Reserved seats and quotas

There are reserved seats in parliament for certain groups

Reserved seats are a means to ensure the parliamentary representation of certain groups in society.

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Yes

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Indigenous peoples
3

Notes:

Three seats are reserved for the clans of Sool, Eastern Sanaag and Buuhoodle. One of those seats belongs to minorities in the clan areas.

Other groups
2

Notes: Two seats are reserved for the Somaliland communities.

Electoral quota for women

Quotas to promote gender-balanced representation in parliament

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No

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Youth quota

Quotas to promote the representation of youth in parliament.

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No

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Links to additional information

Parliamentary website

Link(s) to parliamentary web site in English, French and/or local languages.

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List of members

Link(s) to list of members on the parliamentary web site.

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Rules of procedure/Standing Orders

Link(s) to Rules of procedure on the parliamentary web site in English, French and/or local language.

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No information available
Constitution

Official links to the Constitution in English, French and/or original language is provided. Links to unofficial translations where no other source is available.

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Historical data for IPU membership

Historical data for IPU membership
Year IPU membership
2020-09
List of values for 2020-09
No
2019-04
List of values for 2019-04
No
2018-06
List of values for 2018-06
No

Historical data for Political system

Historical data for Political system
Updated at Political system
2024-03 Presidential system
2005-01 Presidential-Parliamentary

Historical data for IPU membership

Historical data for IPU membership
Updated at IPU membership
2013-01 Yes
2009-01 No
2006-01 Yes
1991-01 No
1980-01 Yes
1969-01 No
1963-01 Yes

Historical data for Chamber name

Historical data for Chamber name
Updated at Chamber name
2016-01 Aqalka Sare (Upper House)
- Upper House

Historical data for Parliamentary term (years)

Historical data for Parliamentary term (years)
Updated at Parliamentary term (years) Notes
2024-03 5

In accordance with the amendments to the 2012 provisional constitution, adopted by Parliament in March 2024, the parliamentary term has been extended from four to five years.
The new parliamentary term has been applied to the current legislature. Its term, started in April 2022, will thus continue until April 2027, instead of 2026.
The next parliamentary elections will be held in 2026, before the expiry of the current legislature, under what is known as the three-party system: the three parties that win the most seats in the local elections will contest the parliamentary elections.
2017-01 4
The term of the Speaker is different from the term of the house

The term of the Speaker may be different from the term of the House (legislature).

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Yes
Speaker's term

The term may be shorter than one year.

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4 Years
Fixed election date for the Speaker, if any

Speakers in several parliaments are elected on a fixed date in accordance with the Constitution.

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No information available

Historical data for Speaker terms

Historical data for Speaker terms
Updated at Speaker terms
2018-01 No information available
2017-01
The term of the Speaker is different from the term of the house

The term of the Speaker may be different from the term of the House (legislature).

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Yes
Speaker's term

The term may be shorter than one year.

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4 Years
Fixed election date for the Speaker, if any

Speakers in several parliaments are elected on a fixed date in accordance with the Constitution.

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No information available

Historical data for Statutory number of members

Historical data for Statutory number of members
Updated at Statutory number of members Notes
2021-11 54

Indirectly elected by state assemblies.

The Upper House shall comprise no more than 54 members drawn from: the 18 regions that existed in Somalia before 1991; the current number of federal member states in Somalia. All federal member states shall have an equal number of representatives in the Upper House.

Three seats are reserved for the clans of Sool, Eastern Sanaag and Buuhoodle. One of those seats belongs to minorities in the clan areas.

Two further seats are reserved for the Somaliland communities.
2021-07 54

Indirectly elected by state assemblies.

The Upper House shall comprise no more than 54 members drawn from: the 18 regions that existed in Somalia before 1991; the current number of federal member states in Somalia. All federal member states shall have an equal number of representatives in the Upper House.

Three seats are reserved for the clans of Sool, Eastern Sanaag and Buuhoodle. One of those seats belongs to minorities in the clan areas.

Two further seats are reserved for the Somaliland communities.
2018-01 54

Indirectly elected by state assemblies.

The Upper House shall comprise no more than 54 members drawn from: the 18 regions that existed in Somalia before 1991; the current number of federal member states in Somalia. All federal member states shall have an equal number of representatives in the Upper House.

Three seats are reserved for the clans of Sool, Eastern Sanaag and Buuhoodle. One of those seats belongs to minorities in the clan areas.

Two further seats are reserved for the Somaliland communities.
2017-02 54

Indirectly elected by state assemblies.

The Upper House shall comprise no more than 54 members drawn from: the 18 regions that existed in Somalia before 1991; the current number of federal member states in Somalia. All federal member states shall have an equal number of representatives in the Upper House.

Three seats are reserved for the clans of Sool, Eastern Sanaag and Buuhoodle. One of those seats belongs to minorities in the clan areas.

Two further seats are reserved for the Somaliland communities.
2017-01 54

Indirectly elected by state assemblies.

The Upper House shall comprise no more than 54 members drawn from: the 18 regions that existed in Somalia before 1991; the current number of federal member states in Somalia. All federal member states shall have an equal number of representatives in the Upper House.

Three seats are reserved for the clans of Sool, Eastern Sanaag and Buuhoodle. One of those seats belongs to minorities in the clan areas.

Two further seats are reserved for the Somaliland communities.
2016-10 54

Indirectly elected by state assemblies.

The Upper House shall comprise no more than 54 members drawn from: the 18 regions that existed in Somalia before 1991; the current number of federal member states in Somalia. All federal member states shall have an equal number of representatives in the Upper House.

Three seats are reserved for the clans of Sool, Eastern Sanaag and Buuhoodle. One of those seats belongs to minorities in the clan areas.

Two further seats are reserved for the Somaliland communities.
2016-01 54

Indirectly elected by state assemblies.

The Upper House shall comprise no more than 54 members drawn from: the 18 regions that existed in Somalia before 1991; the current number of federal member states in Somalia. All federal member states shall have an equal number of representatives in the Upper House.

Three seats are reserved for the clans of Sool, Eastern Sanaag and Buuhoodle. One of those seats belongs to minorities in the clan areas.

Two further seats are reserved for the Somaliland communities.

Historical data for Current number of members

Historical data for Current number of members
Updated at Current number of members
2021-11 54
2021-10 52
2021-09 48
2021-07 29
2017-02 54
2016-01 53

Historical data for Men

Historical data for Men
Updated at Men
2021-11 40
2021-10 38
2021-09 36
2021-07 22

Historical data for Women

Historical data for Women
Updated at Women
2021-10 14
2021-09 12
2021-07 7
2017-02 13
2016-01 12

Historical data for Percentage of women

Historical data for Percentage of women
Updated at Percentage of women
2021-11 25.9%
2021-10 26.9%
2021-09 25.0%
2021-07 24.1%
2017-02 24.1%
2016-01 22.6%

Historical data for Statutory number of members per country

Historical data for Statutory number of members per country
Updated at Statutory number of members per country
2021-11 329
2021-07 329
2018-01 329
2017-02 329
2017-01 329
2016-12 329
2016-10 329
2016-01 329

Historical data for Population (in thousands)

Historical data for Population (in thousands)
Updated at Population (in thousands)
2023-01 18,358
2022-01 17,801
2021-01 17,271
2015-01 13,908
2014-01 13,513
2013-01 13,132
2012-01 12,764
2011-01 12,405
2010-01 12,053
2009-01 11,708
2008-01 11,369
2007-01 11,039
2006-01 10,718
2005-01 10,410
2004-01 10,116
2003-01 9,836
2002-01 9,564
2001-01 9,291
2000-01 9,011
1999-01 8,720
1998-01 8,422
1997-01 8,137
1996-01 7,892
1995-01 7,705
1994-01 7,584
1993-01 7,520
1992-01 7,489
1991-01 7,456
1990-01 7,397
1989-01 7,298
1988-01 7,165
1987-01 7,018
1986-01 6,887
1985-01 6,792
1984-01 6,748
1983-01 6,740
1982-01 6,716
1981-01 6,605
1980-01 6,359
1979-01 5,954
1978-01 5,418
1977-01 4,827
1976-01 4,289
1975-01 3,880
1974-01 3,628
1973-01 3,506
1972-01 3,475
1971-01 3,470
1970-01 3,445
1969-01 3,388
1968-01 3,314
1967-01 3,228
1966-01 3,144
1965-01 3,068
1964-01 3,001
1963-01 2,936
1962-01 2,874
1961-01 2,814
1960-01 2,756
1959-01 2,700
1958-01 2,645
1957-01 2,592
1956-01 2,541
1955-01 2,492
1954-01 2,444
1953-01 2,397
1952-01 2,352
1951-01 2,308
1945-01 2,264

Historical data for Inhabitants per parliamentarian

Historical data for Inhabitants per parliamentarian
Updated at Inhabitants per parliamentarian
2023-01 55,799
2022-01 54,106
2021-11 52,495
2021-01 52,495
2018-01 42,274
2017-02 42,274
2017-01 42,274
2016-12 42,274
2015-01 42,274

Historical data for Members for whom data is available

Historical data for Members for whom data is available
Updated at Members for whom data is available
2022-04 No information available
2017-01 54
Breakdown of members by age and gender
18 - 20 21 - 30 31 - 40 41 - 45 46 - 50 51 - 60 61 - 70 71 - 80 81 - 90 91 and over Totals per gender
Male 0 1 5 3 6 7 12 7 0 0 41
Female 0 1 4 2 3 3 0 0 0 0 13
Totals per age interval 0 2 9 5 9 10 12 7 0 0 54
Total <= 45: 16 Total >= 46: 38
Percentage of members, by age
Age at the last election or renewal Overall Male Female
Percentage of MPs 30 years of age or younger

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 3.7% 1.9% 1.9%
Percentage of MPs 40 years of age or younger

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 20.4% 11% 9.3%
Percentage of MPs 45 years of age or younger

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 29.6% 17% 13.0%

Historical data for Breakdown of members by age and sex

Historical data for Breakdown of members by age and sex
Updated at Breakdown of members by age and sex
2022-04 No information available
2017-01
Breakdown of members by age and gender
18 - 20 21 - 30 31 - 40 41 - 45 46 - 50 51 - 60 61 - 70 71 - 80 81 - 90 91 and over Totals per gender
Male 0 1 5 3 6 7 12 7 0 0 41
Female 0 1 4 2 3 3 0 0 0 0 13
Totals per age interval 0 2 9 5 9 10 12 7 0 0 54
Total <= 45: 16 Total >= 46: 38
Percentage of members, by age
Age at the last election or renewal Overall Male Female
Percentage of MPs 30 years of age or younger

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 3.7% 1.9% 1.9%
Percentage of MPs 40 years of age or younger

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 20.4% 11% 9.3%
Percentage of MPs 45 years of age or younger

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 29.6% 17% 13.0%

Historical data for Percentage of MPs 30 years of age or younger

Historical data for Percentage of MPs 30 years of age or younger
Updated at Percentage of MPs 30 years of age or younger
2022-04 No information available
2017-01 3.7%