Somalia is preparing for a significant democratic milestone as officials announced that voter registration for local elections in Mogadishu will begin on April 15, ahead of polls scheduled for June 30. The vote, which marks the first direct election of local leaders in the capital in decades, is a major step in the country’s shift toward a one-person, one-vote system.
Deputy Governor of Banadir for Security, Mohamed Ahmed Diiriye Yabooh, confirmed on Saturday that registration will commence in nine districts across the capital, with plans in place for elections in all 20 districts by July.
“The people are ready to elect accountable officials. This is a turning point for Banadir,”
he said.
The process is part of a broader electoral roadmap endorsed in 2023 by most federal and regional leaders. However, key federal member states Puntland and Jubaland have refused to participate, accusing the federal government of pushing forward without adequate consultation.
Tensions remain high as the government prepares for a National Consultative Council (NCC) meeting in May, to which Puntland and Jubaland have been invited. Their participation, however, remains uncertain.
While Puntland has already tested direct voting through its own local council elections, officials there insist that national-level implementation must follow proper legal frameworks. Meanwhile, critics argue that the federal government is using the electoral process to consolidate power, particularly after it pushed back national election timelines without consensus from all regional states.
Despite the political rift and ongoing security concerns, including threats from al-Shabaab, authorities in Mogadishu see the upcoming elections as a critical step toward inclusive governance and democratic reform.