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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A fire on a British Airways Boeing 777 at Gatwick Airport last June was caused by a co-pilot mixing up his left and right hands during take-off, according to a report by the UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB).
High tariffs are expected to remain a core feature of Donald Trump's trade policy even after new trade agreements are reached, according to several current and former advisers who spoke with Reuters.
The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv has shared a warning about a possible air attack that could happen in the next few days.
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Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to unveil fresh sanctions targeting up to 100 Russian oil tankers used to evade international restrictions, in a bid to cut off funding for Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine.
A fire on a British Airways Boeing 777 at Gatwick Airport last June was caused by a co-pilot mixing up his left and right hands during take-off, according to a report by the UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB).
High tariffs are expected to remain a core feature of Donald Trump's trade policy even after new trade agreements are reached, according to several current and former advisers who spoke with Reuters.
The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv has shared a warning about a possible air attack that could happen in the next few days.
U.S. President Donald Trump had a "very good and productive" phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday, according to the White House.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to unveil fresh sanctions targeting up to 100 Russian oil tankers used to evade international restrictions, in a bid to cut off funding for Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine.
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