Sunday April 13, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — The Banadir Regional Administration has announced that voter registration for the upcoming local government elections will begin on April 15 in nine districts across Mogadishu, marking a significant step toward implementing a one-person, one-vote system in the capital.
Deputy Governor for Security Mohamed Ahmed Diiriye Yabooh made the announcement Saturday in Mogadishu, stating that the administration is fully prepared to facilitate the vote in cooperation with the Independent Electoral Commission.
"On the 15th of this month, population registration for the one-person, one-vote election will be held in nine districts of the Banadir region. This shows the readiness of both the administration and the people of Banadir to hold these historic elections," Yabooh said.
He added that preparations have been finalized in all 20 districts of the Banadir region to hold the vote in June and July. "The people are ready to elect officials who can be held accountable," Yabooh emphasized.
The announcement comes amid opposition from several political figures and leaders of the Jubbaland and Puntland administrations, who continue to criticize the process and question the federal government's authority to organize such elections without broader consensus.
The move toward direct elections represents a major departure from Somalia's long-standing clan-based power-sharing model. The June vote is expected to be a key milestone in the country's democratic transition, aiming to expand public participation in governance despite ongoing challenges, including political tensions and threats from the al-Shabaab insurgency.