HARGEISA — Somaliland’s Lower House of Parliament on Tuesday approved amendments to the constitution that will reinforce the role of youth in public and parliamentary life.
Only half of the 82 members were present for the vote and 34 endorsed the new bill that will determine the age at which a person may be eligible to stand for general election.
The current minimum age for a person to be eligible for elective office is 35 which many youth rights groups labelled as unjustified age discrimination.
In today’s session the parliament argued it was important for the youths to take part in decision making and have their voice heard. The parliament lowered the minimum age of candidacy for the Lower House to 25.
The youths in the country welcomed the decision and said it gives them new hope to make other changes as well in Somaliland’s political system.
