Somalia Launches First Voter Registration in Mogadishu in Over Half a Century

Edition : Widad WAHBI

The Somali government on Tuesday launched the first electoral registry in the capital Mogadishu in over 56 years, marking a significant milestone in the country’s gradual shift toward universal suffrage ahead of the next presidential election.

This move follows the government’s approval in August 2024 of a direct voting system, aimed at replacing the long-standing clan-based political model that has shaped Somali governance for decades.

The voter registration campaign in Mogadishu is seen as a crucial step toward the first local elections based on universal suffrage, scheduled for June 2025. It also lays the groundwork for the implementation of the “one person, one vote” system for the 2026 legislative and presidential elections.

This electoral reform is part of broader efforts to establish a more inclusive and democratic political framework in a country that continues to face significant security and governance challenges.