Somalia launched its national voter registration campaign on Sunday in the capital, Mogadishu, marking a significant milestone as the country prepares for its first direct elections in nearly six decades.
The initiative is part of the broader effort to transition from a clan-based indirect voting system to a more inclusive, one-person, one-vote model.
Abdikarim Ahmed Hassan, the chairperson of the National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (NIEC), announced that voter registration will begin on Tuesday, with citizens expected to report to designated registration centers across the country. This marks the first time in almost 50 years that residents of Mogadishu will participate in such a process.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud made a pledge in 2023 to overhaul Somalia’s electoral system, moving away from the longstanding clan-based indirect voting model. The government has since passed two bills aimed at transitioning to direct, one-person, one-vote elections, with presidential elections scheduled for 2026.
However, the government’s plan has faced significant opposition. Former presidents Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, along with other opposition leaders, have rejected the proposed reforms, calling the move unilateral and warning that they may organize a parallel vote if the government proceeds without their consent.
The last election, held in 2022, was conducted under the 4.5 clan-based system, which allocated equal parliamentary representation to four major clans and a half-share to minority groups. Somalia has not held direct elections since 1967, making this upcoming process a historic shift in the country’s political landscape.
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Protesters and police clashed in the Israeli town of Mazor as crowds rallied against Prime Minister Netanyahu’s ongoing war in Gaza.
Hamas claims it has lost contact with the group holding Edan Alexander, a U.S.-Israeli soldier, after an Israeli airstrike reportedly killed one of his guards.
Tehran and Washington have wrapped up their second round of nuclear talks, aiming to revive stalled diplomacy and explore the path to a potential agreement.
Jordan's King Abdullah II and Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi held a phone conversation on Saturday to discuss ongoing efforts to end the Israeli war on Gaza, which has been ongoing since October 7, 2023.
President Vladimir Putin’s announcement of a temporary Easter ceasefire in Ukraine has drawn strong criticism from Kyiv, as Ukrainian leaders question the sincerity behind Moscow’s gesture amid continued hostilities and deep mistrust.
Protesters and police clashed in the Israeli town of Mazor as crowds rallied against Prime Minister Netanyahu’s ongoing war in Gaza.
Hamas claims it has lost contact with the group holding Edan Alexander, a U.S.-Israeli soldier, after an Israeli airstrike reportedly killed one of his guards.
Tehran and Washington have wrapped up their second round of nuclear talks, aiming to revive stalled diplomacy and explore the path to a potential agreement.
Jordan's King Abdullah II and Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi held a phone conversation on Saturday to discuss ongoing efforts to end the Israeli war on Gaza, which has been ongoing since October 7, 2023.
President Vladimir Putin’s announcement of a temporary Easter ceasefire in Ukraine has drawn strong criticism from Kyiv, as Ukrainian leaders question the sincerity behind Moscow’s gesture amid continued hostilities and deep mistrust.
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