Mogadishu (SD) – The Somali National Assembly, in a historic move, voted overwhelmingly to pass the Benadir regional parliamentary representation law in Mogadishu today.

A total of 142 lawmakers voted for Benadir region to have 13 members in the Upper House, while up to 4 members of the Somali parliament rejected the motion.

Members of the Somali National Assembly have been debating the bill vigorously, since a Joint Committee on Electoral Law submitted that Benadir should only be given seven members in the Upper House.

The President of the Federal Government of Somalia, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo thanked the Speaker and Members of the Federal Parliament for their confirmation of region’s political representation in the Upper House, which he proposed at the opening of the 7th Session of Parliament.

Also, President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo emphasized that the political representation of Benadir region in the Upper House will strengthen our effective governance and reconstruction of the country.

The Somali Upper House, moving forward will have a total of 67, representing the country’s official regional administrations.