(15 Apr 2025) MOGADISHU (Halqabsi News) – Voter registration for the upcoming one-person, one-vote local elections officially began in Mogadishu on Tuesday, starting in the Shangaani district, even as political tensions remain high over the federal government’s handling of the electoral process.
Residents, including youth, elders, and government officials, queued in large numbers at registration centres, signalling a strong turnout on day one. Abdihakim Ahmed Hassan, chairman of the National Independent Electoral Commission (NIEC), welcomed the enthusiasm.
“I am pleased to see residents of Banadir coming out to register so they can elect their local representatives,” he said. “The turnout has exceeded our expectations—it’s a promising start.”
Among the first to register was Benadir Governor and Mayor of Mogadishu, Mohamed Ahmed Amiin, who urged all citizens in the capital to follow suit. “This is the first time I’ve ever registered to vote, and I encourage every Mogadishu resident to do the same,” he said.
Also registering was Minister of Women and Human Rights Khadija Almakhzumi, who is contesting in Shangaani. “Today, I was honoured to register in my constituency for this historic election,” she said.
The rollout comes amid ongoing opposition and criticism, with some political leaders accusing the Villa Somalia-backed process of favouring President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration and being designed to prolong his hold on power. Despite this, the government remains committed to implementing universal suffrage at the local level—a move it frames as a cornerstone of democratic reform.
Halqabsi News
