Tuesday April 8, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia’s electoral commission has certified five political associations to contest the country’s upcoming local elections, a step widely seen as part of a fragile but forward-moving transition toward democratic governance.
Announcing the decision at a press conference in Mogadishu on Tuesday, Abdikarin Ahmed Hassan, chairman of the National Independent Electoral Commission (NIEC), said the associations had fulfilled all legal requirements and would now be allowed to field candidates in the local council elections scheduled for June.
“These five associations have cleared the conditions set by the commission,” Hassan said. “They are the legitimate political stakeholders of this country.”
Voter registration is underway and free of charge, according to the commission. Hassan encouraged citizens to register and participate, urging political associations still in the pipeline to finalize their paperwork if they hope to be part of future elections.
As Somalia attempts to shift away from indirect voting systems dominated by elite power-sharing arrangements, the June vote marks a major attempt to widen public participation. The country’s political system has long been shaped by clan dynamics, contested authority between the federal government and member states, and ongoing threats from the Islamist insurgent group Al-Shabaab.
“These five associations are now mobilizing supporters,” Hassan said. “We urge the Somali people to choose their leaders carefully, to hold them accountable, and to reject those who do not represent their will.”
The elections are expected to test Somalia’s electoral infrastructure and its ability to deliver credible democratic processes.