Somali women warn states doing little to meet gender quotas in elections

Somalia election.

A Somali polling agent (right) explains the voting procedure to a voter before she casts her ballot in Baidoa during a past election. FILE PHOTO | AFP

A Somali women’s lobby has criticised leaders of federal states for doing little to achieve the necessary gender quotas that would have seen more female legislators in the new Somalia parliament.

And Somali Women Association chairperson Batula Ahmed Gabale thinks women have failed to garner at least 30 percent of the seats because the regional presidents did not create opportunities.