Presidential candidate Nasa Ige promises Somalia's first female Prime Minister if elected

Somali politician and presidential candidate Nasa Ige. [Courtesy]

Prominent Somali politician and presidential candidate Nasa Ige has announced a landmark commitment to appoint a woman as Somalia’s Prime Minister should he win the 2026 presidential election

Mr Ige’s announcement marks what would be a historic first for the country.

Speaking at a community engagement event in Mogadishu, Ige said his administration would prioritise restoring political power to young people and women, whom he described as the backbone of nation-building.

“Women are the foundation of state-building. If I become President of Somalia, I will appoint a woman as Prime Minister,” Ige said.

The presidential hopeful argued that many of Somalia’s long-standing challenges stem from the concentration of power among a small group of political elites, which has marginalised youth and women in particular. He maintained that meaningful political renewal would only be possible by empowering a new generation of leaders.

Ige stated that if his Party (Somali Youth Party – SYP) secures victory, his government would place young people at the centre of decision-making, with women playing a leading and visible role in governance.

“More than a quarter of a century after the collapse of Somalia’s central government, our nation continues to face profound challenges caused by poor political leadership. Somalia remains trapped in uncertainty, largely because a few have monopolised power. My vision is to return authority to the hands of a new generation,” he said.

The pledge has been widely welcomed by Somali youth, while women in particular have expressed strong support, viewing the commitment as a rare and significant step towards inclusive political participation. Somalia remains among the countries where women have limited representation and influence in formal political spaces.

Nasa Ige, who is currently contesting the presidency, has previously served as the Advisor for International Relations and Programme Coordinator for the president of the Federal Republic of Somalia, as well as Special Advisor to the Prime Minister. The roles made him one of the youngest individuals to have advised both of Somalia’s highest executive offices on separate occasions.

On April 13, Somalia launched a national voter registration campaign in Mogadishu, marking a key step toward the country’s first one-person, one-vote elections since 1967. In 2023, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud pledged to transition Somalia to universal suffrage. Since then, the cabinet has endorsed legislation to support direct presidential elections by 2026.

However, opposition leaders, including former presidents Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, have rejected the process as unilateral and suggested they may organise a parallel vote.