President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has welcomed the commencement of voter registration for the Banadir Regional District Councils.
He described it as a historic milestone in Somalia’s democratic journey after more than five decades.
In a statement released on Saturday, December 13, 2025, the President confirmed that he had officially received his voter registration card for the upcoming local council elections in the districts of the Banadir region.
He emphasized that the process marks the first time in 57 years that Somali citizens will have the opportunity to directly elect representatives to their local councils.
“This is a historic opportunity,” President Hassan Sheikh said, noting that the right of citizens to freely and directly choose their representatives is a constitutional obligation that the government is committed to fulfilling.
The President recalled past commitments made by Somali political leaders, including himself, to ensure that citizens would one day have the power to determine who governs them and makes decisions about their future.
He described the ongoing voter registration and upcoming elections as the first concrete step toward realizing that long-standing promise.
“There was a day when many of us, as political leaders, stood before the Somali people and pledged that they would choose those who decide their destiny and future,” he said.
“What we are witnessing today is the beginning of the fulfillment of that pledge.”
The local council elections in the Banadir region remain as a key component of Somalia’s broader transition toward universal suffrage and democratic governance.
This will move the country away from indirect selection systems that have dominated the country’s politics for decades.
The process is intended to strengthen local governance, enhance public participation, and build confidence in democratic institutions.
The elections are also viewed as a test case for expanding direct voting to other regions of the country in the future.
Somalia’s National Electoral Commission has announced that 20 political parties have successfully submitted their candidate lists for the upcoming local council elections in the Banadir region.
The commission said the candidate registration exercise has officially closed after an extension granted to allow parties additional time to complete their submissions. The process opened on November 25 and concluded on December 10.
Abdikarim Ahmed Hassan, the chairperson of the National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (NIEBC), said the commission will now move to the verification of the submitted candidate lists as part of preparations for the upcoming polls.
He affirmed the commission’s readiness to conduct a smooth electoral process, emphasizing its commitment to safeguarding integrity and transparency throughout the elections across Somalia.
Hassan noted that the NIEBC’s mandate is anchored in promoting democratic principles and delivering free, fair, and credible elections.
