Somalia’s cabinet has approved a bill that could usher in universal suffrage for the first time in over half a century. If confirmed by parliament, the bill will replace the indirect voting system that has been in place for decades, giving citizens the direct power to elect their leaders.

The move comes after more than five decades of utilizing an indirect system where lawmakers elected the president, while clan heads and elders chose representatives for both the federal government and regional states.“The election rules will lead the country to one person one vote nationally,” said government spokesperson Farhan Jimale. “(This) will give the citizens the power to vote and elect for the first time after 55 years. It is a historic day.”

The transition to direct voting was initially planned for 2020 but was delayed due to political squabbles and ongoing security challenges posed by the terrorist group al-Shabaab, banned in Russia and many other countries.

The policy was championed by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who was himself elected by lawmakers in May 2022.