Somalia: Presidential election commences in the capital, first round kicked off

Image

MOGADISHU, Somalia- The presidential election for Somalia has commenced in the capital Mogadishu, under tight security measures on Wednesday, Garowe Online reports.

The Speaker of the 10th Federal Parliament, Mohamed Osman Jawari, officially started the event and noted that the ballot will be concluded once a candidate wins a majority votes from the members of both Lower and Upper Houses.

A candidate can win the ballot in the first round of voting, if he obtains majority two-third of the votes but analysts say that it’s highly unlikely to occur amid stiff competition from opposition candidates. 

4 candidates with the most votes will advance to the second round, and if a candidate didn’t receive majority votes, 2 candidates will only progress to the last third round to compete for the presidency.  

21 presidential aspirants are competing for the top office in the country, whereas MPs and Senators will cast their votes in a secret ballot to elect the 9th President of Somalia.

GAROWEONLINE

Related Articles

Somalia at a Crossroads Ahead of High-Stakes May 10 Election Talks

At a recent news conference, they said they would consider the president “an ordinary citizen” after May 15, when they say his four-year term expires.

  • Somalia

    03-05-2026

  • 08:40AM

Somali president invites Future Council for May 10 talks amid election impasse

The invitation comes less than 15 days before the president’s current term is set to expire, with no agreement yet reached on national elections.

  • Somalia

    02-05-2026

  • 07:56PM