Disputed Electoral Body Launches Voter Registration Ahead of Mogadishu Elections

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Mogadishu has begun registering voters for its upcoming local elections in June — the first such polls in the capital in over 55 years. However, the process is being overseen by an electoral committee whose legitimacy is being hotly contested by several political actors.

The voter registration drive started in the oldest district of Mogadishu, part of the Banaadir region, which now comprises 20 districts with an estimated combined population of around 3 million people.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has reiterated his commitment to transitioning Somalia away from the clan-based 4.5 power-sharing system, aiming for a one-person, one-vote electoral model by 2026. However, widespread skepticism surrounds this goal due to persistent security threats from Al-Shabaab, ongoing political divisions, and broader concerns over stability.

Since 2000, Somalia has operated under an indirect electoral system where lawmakers are selected through clan quotas and in turn elect the president. This model has long been criticized for marginalizing certain clans and failing to ensure fair representation.

Several regional administrations have voiced strong opposition to the composition of the current electoral committee, arguing that it was handpicked by the president and may be biased toward his party — raising fears of potential vote rigging.

GAROWE ONLINE