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Somalia extends Banadir voter registration ahead of landmark 2026 elections
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    Tuesday July 15, 2025


    A staff member from Somalia’s National Independent Electoral Commission registers a resident in Mogadishu’s Yaaqshiid district as part of the ongoing voter registration drive ahead of the country’s first direct local elections since 1969. (File photo / NIEC)

    Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia’s electoral commission has extended voter registration in the Banadir region by one month as public participation continues to rise ahead of Mogadishu’s first direct elections in more than five decades.

    The new deadline, now set for August 15, 2025, comes after weeks of high turnout across the capital’s districts. The National Independent Electoral Commission (NIEC) said the extension ensures all eligible residents have an opportunity to register.

    “Our decision reflects the growing demand from citizens and our commitment to inclusive participation,” said Abdikarim Ahmed Hassan, chair of the electoral commission.

    The commission first launched registration in Mogadishu in April, beginning in Shangani district, before expanding to more than a dozen districts, including Hodan, Howlwadaag, and Yaaqshiid. Thousands of residents have lined up at registration centers in recent weeks, part of a push toward Somalia’s long-awaited transition to one-person, one-vote elections.

    If held as planned, the vote will be Mogadishu’s first direct local election since 1969, ending decades of indirect clan-based voting through the 4.5 power-sharing formula. The federal government is hoping to gradually phase in direct elections nationwide ahead of the 2026 presidential vote.

    Electoral officials and regional administrators have emphasized the significance of this moment. “Registering to vote is not just a right—it is a civic responsibility,” said Mohamed Ahmed Diiriye (Yabooh), deputy governor for security and politics in Banadir.

    The registration campaign has already expanded to federal member states, including Hirshabelle, Galmudug, and South West, where regional presidents, such as Ahmed Abdi Kariye (Qoor Qoor) in Galmudug and Ali Gudlawe Hussein in Hirshabelle, have led by example, becoming the first to register in their respective states.

    However, opposition figures, including former presidents Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed (Farmaajo), have raised concerns about the transparency of the process. Some have criticized the federal government for advancing electoral reforms without political consensus, warning of potential parallel electoral campaigns if disputes over the framework remain unresolved.

    The electoral commission has emphasized cooperation with local security forces to safeguard the process. In a statement, the NIEC said it is coordinating with regional administrations to begin registration in SSC-Khaatumo, Gedo, and other key areas in the coming months.

    In Banadir, officials have pushed the public to register. Mayor Mohamed Ahmed Amiir and other senior administrators have toured registration sites across Mogadishu to encourage participation and ensure smooth operations.

    Residents in all 17 districts of Banadir are encouraged to register before the new deadline. The electoral commission has especially called on young adults and women to take advantage of the extension and help shape Somalia’s democratic future.

     





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