Somalia is seeing an increase in the number of political parties ahead of elections in 2016 and women are not being left behind.
CCTV’s Abdulaziz Billow brings us the story of Fawzia Yusuf – the first Somali woman to head a political party in the East African nation.
A nation recovering from decades long conflict. With elections slated for 2016 – politicians want to make an impact.
Fawzia Yusuf Hajji Adan is the first women to form a political party.
A former Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister – Fawzia – currently a member of parliament. In 2013, she became the first women to hold such a senior position in Somalia.
Corruption, unemployment and equality are among her main areas of focus. Fawzia hailed her new political party ( National Democratic Party) as a milestone for the Somali woman – forced to bear the brunt of the civil war and left out when it comes to decision-making.
Experts also say – Somalia is also slowly over coming its tradition of treating women as second class.
In recent years – Somalia’s government and the United Nations have been on a mission to improving status of women. Recently Mogadishu appointed a woman to head the Independent Elections Commission, a sign to prove it’s giving Somali women a chance in leadership and state building.
