Thursday July 3, 2025
Dhusamareb (HOL) –
Galmudug State President Ahmed Abdi Kariye Qoor Qoor on Thursday officially
launched the “One Person, One Vote” voter registration campaign in Dhusamareb,
the administrative capital of the regional state.
President Qoor Qoor became the first citizen to register in
Dhusamareb, setting an example for residents. He urged all eligible citizens
across Galmudug to register in large numbers to register, emphasizing the
importance of electing accountable leaders who will drive development and
uphold good governance.
The national electoral commission began the first phase of
voter registration in Mogadishu two months ago. Galmudug is now the first
Federal Member State to roll out the campaign in its regions.
This milestone comes on the same day President Hassan Sheikh
Mohamud held a second round of high-level talks with the Somali Salvation
Forum, a key opposition coalition, at Villa Somalia. The discussions focused on
four national priorities: strengthening unity, finalizing the constitutional
review, enhancing national security and counter-terrorism, and establishing a
direct and inclusive electoral process.
Both sides reiterated their commitment to a “one person, one
vote” electoral system, firmly rejecting a return to the indirect voting model
used in 2022, which they criticized as flawed. However, key disagreements
remain over the structure of the electoral model, the mandate of election
commissions, and the framework for political party participation.
The parallel developments in Dhusamareb and Mogadishu
reflect growing national momentum toward transitioning to a universal suffrage
system — a critical step in Somalia’s democratic journey.