MOGADISHU, Somalia – President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is moving forward with voter registration in Somalia, despite opposition from several federal states, signaling a lack of interest in further political dialogue on the matter.
The National Consultative Council (NCC) is scheduled to meet in May 2025. Ahead of that, electoral officials have announced that voter registration in Mogadishu will begin on April 15, with the goal of holding local council elections in the capital on June 30, 2025.
If successful, this will be the first time in decades that Mogadishu residents elect their local leaders. The direct voting model has already been implemented in Puntland, where several local councils have been elected by the people.
This voter registration initiative aligns with an agreement reached last year between the federal government and regional leaders. However, leaders from Puntland and Jubaland did not participate in those talks.
Sources indicate that President Hassan Sheikh and NCC organizers have contacted leaders from Hirshabelle, Galmudug, and Southwest states, and have extended invitations to Jubaland and Puntland as well, though it remains uncertain whether they will attend.
Last year, federal and regional leaders postponed popular elections to 2025. The decision, which was made without the participation of Jubaland and Puntland, was criticized for lacking adequate consultation and for imposing a universal suffrage model.
According to the agreement, local elections are to be held in June 2025, followed by regional parliamentary and leadership elections in September 2025. However, implementation faces delays due to legal concerns and resistance from Puntland and Jubaland.
Initially, local elections were scheduled for June 2024, and regional elections for November 2024. The revised timeline was agreed upon after lengthy discussions in Mogadishu—though again, without the involvement of Said Abdullahi Deni (Puntland) and Ahmed Islam Madobe (Jubaland).
HORN LIFE
