The CIVIC FORUM: Elections 2021- Promises and Priorities

Following the publication of the policy brief on “Somaliland Joint Parliamentary & Local Councils Elections 2021 The Promises and Priorities” The institute for Strategic Insights and Research’s arm known as the ISIR CIVIC FORUM envisioned to stimulate intellectual debate and independent policy analysis organized an event that drew a large number of public audience interested to engage directly with their elected leader’s views on major policy issues affecting their lives. The CIVIC FORUM provides a rare opportunity for the public, policy paper authors, and leaders to share one platform.

The second part of the event gave the floor to a panel of experts on parliamentary and local council affairs. The panel moderated by Kamal Marjan (well-known media personality across the Somali speaking horn and author of several books) included Suad Ibrahim Abdi, a long-term civil society activist, women’s rights advocate, and researcher on institutional capacity building. Suad Ibrahim herself contested for a seat in the house of representatives in the May 31 elections. The second panelist was Ahmed Dalal Farah former director-general of two key ministries who advised the Hargeisa City Council for five years on institutional reform and decentralizations. The third Panelist Honorable Dr. Sa’ad Ali Shire, the minister for Somaliland’s ministry of finance development and part of the government cabinet for the last 11 years completed the lineup for the panel where he emphasized the importance of cooperation between the legislative and executive organ of the government. 

The speaker of the house of representatives honorable Abrizak Khalif Ahmed who was invited as a guest also gave remarks after listening to the thoughts of the experts, the public discussion, and paper recommendations. The speaker echoed the need to deliver on campaign promises amid high public expectations. The Speaker also answered some of the questions raised by the moderator and reiterated the new parliaments’ commitment to effectively function by working to bridge the gap between the voters and their representatives.

Watch the full discussion here..

ISIR CIVIC FORUM PHOTOS