The project aimed to present the voices of the Somali people on 2016 political dispensation and offer important information about emerging trends in Somali politics. The findings provide reliable, representative data on the views of residents in five major population centers, which contribute to the debate around the political process as major decisions about Somalia’s future are being deliberated.

In the absence of a proper election, more than half (51 percent) favor either traditional elders or clan constituencies as the preferred selection alterative. Of those, just over 27 percent prefer that traditional elders select MPs as they did in 2012; while nearly a quarter prefer to have clan constituency assembly select MPs.

Region or district-based selection is also popular among those surveyed. Some 41 percent prefer districts or regional administrations rather than a clan/elders-centric formula. Close to a quarter (22 percent) indicated they prefer district-based selection of representatives, while 19 percent of respondents want selection of MPs based on Somalia’s regions.

Download the full report here.