HOW DID THE STATE OF SOMALILAND END UP WITH ZERO FEMALE MPs?

While rightly lauded for its elections, the self-declared states’ lack of female representation points to a deep problem in its democratic health. In the 2021 elections, not a single woman was elected to parliament. This level of female exclusion from politics is unprecedented, but the problem is not new. Prior to these elections, there was only one female MP and nine female local councillors. Now, uniquely in Africa, Somaliland is left with zero women among its 82 elected MPs and a mere three women among the 220 elected councillors.