Public Perceptions of Women’s Quota in the Somali Parliament

Somali women are gradually entering the political and leadership landscape. Currently, several influential women hold key political positions, including the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the current Minister of Women and Human Rights. In the 2017 and 2022 parliamentary elections, a 30% quota for women's representation was allocated. However, actual outcomes fell short women secured only 24% of seats in 2017 and 19% in 2022. Given these results, the likelihood of achieving the 30% quota in the upcoming 2026 elections remains low. It is important to note that the 30% quota was not a locally driven initiative, which has contributed to its limited implementation. Moreover, there is a lack of research addressing women's representation in Somalia’s parliament. Objective: This study aims to explore public perceptions of the women's quota in the Somali parliament and to identify what level of women’s representation is locally accepted and considered realistic. Methodology: Data collection was conducted on a nationwide scale, employing a mixed-methods approach that combined online and offline techniques. A stratified random sampling of residential addresses was undertaken across all major regional states in Somalia, encompassing both urban and rural areas, to ensure broad geographic and demographic representation. The target population consisted of Somali residents aged 18 years and above. Based on national population estimates, a total sample of n = 1,500 was targeted, yielding 1,372 completed responses, corresponding to a response rate of 91.5%. Findings: Over 60% of the respondents stated that women deserve 20% of the parliament quote while, 12% said no need quota allocation at all let them compete and voters should decide what they deserve. The survey also finds that Somali people largely believe men and women are not equally capable when it comes to some key qualities and behaviors that are essential for parliament seat.