Historic Step for Somalia: Voter Registration Campaign Launches in Mogadishu
Sunday morning marked a historic milestone in Somalia, as citizens witnessed the launch of the country’s first nationwide voter registration drive in nearly half a century. Taking place in the vibrant heart of Mogadishu, this ambitious campaign signals an unprecedented turning point as Somalia strives to move beyond a longstanding tradition of clan-based politics toward a direct, democratic electoral process.
Can a nation marred by decades of conflict, instability, and political rivalry finally set a definitive course towards sustainable democracy? Officials are optimistic, yet public anticipation is tempered by cautious realism.
Speaking to diverse gatherings during the launch event, Abdikarim Ahmed Hassan, chairperson of Somalia’s National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, announced confidently, “The voter registration phase will officially commence on Tuesday. We urge all eligible citizens in Mogadishu to present themselves at their designated registration centers.” His announcement was met with energetic applause and hopeful optimism, mixed with an air of understandable apprehension—after all, most present had never experienced such a direct and accountable voter registration process.
Indeed, a remarkable fact is that for inhabitants of Somalia’s bustling capital, this will be their first direct experience with electoral registration since 1967. The mental image is compelling: families, young and old voters alike, standing patiently under the Mogadishu sun, driven by a quiet belief in a democratic future. A veteran activist, aged in his seventies and present at the launch, poignantly remarked, “This is a dream I thought I’d never see fulfilled. Such a day gives me profound pride and cautious hope for our grandchildren.”
This significant electoral exercise follows a critical promise delivered by the recently re-elected President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. Immediately after assuming office in 2023, President Mohamud pledged to transition Somalia away from its controversial 4.5 clan-based indirect voting system—a model in which parliamentary seats were allocated equally among four dominant clans and a smaller share reserved for marginalized groups. This long-established arrangement has been regularly criticized for perpetuating divisiveness and inefficiency, prompting calls for reform and a more inclusive, transparent governance structure.
“Our nation deserves an electoral process that represents each citizen individually—not primarily through clan identity, but through their rights as patriotic and equal Somalis,” President Mohamud passionately stated earlier this year. His vision laid the groundwork for the Somali Cabinet’s recent approval of two crucial electoral reform bills designed to fully implement the elusive one-person, one-vote system ahead of the presidential elections scheduled for 2026.
However, not all political entities in Somalia have welcomed this paradigm shift in democratic practices. Prominent opposition leaders—including former presidents Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed (Farmaajo)—have openly expressed their dissatisfaction with what they term a “unilateral” decision by the government. In recent press statements, they warned strongly that such significant electoral reforms should not proceed without broader consensus among various political stakeholders and communities. They even indicated the possibility of organizing parallel elections, raising legitimate concerns about potential disruptions and political divides.
Consequently, the forthcoming local elections, planned for late June, will profoundly test Somalia’s political unity and democratic maturity. Crucially, these elections will set the stage for a more ambitious presidential electoral transition in 2026, making their success or failure particularly resonant.
For many ordinary Somalis, therefore, the forthcoming weeks carry promises of excitement mingled with concern. Will these official efforts result, finally, in tangible changes that restore national trust, bolster legitimacy, and unify Somalia under a transparent democracy? Or will political rivalries, coupled with logistical hurdles, derail this wave of electoral optimism?
Reflecting candidly on the uncertain journey ahead, a Mogadishu schoolteacher attending Sunday’s launch event observed thoughtfully, “We’ve waited generations for real democracy. It’s hard not to feel excited, of course—but also anxious. Real democracy requires trust, stability, and unity—have we reached that yet?”
With Somalia having suffered years of turmoil and indirect clan-based elections since the late 1960s, the coming months provide a defining opportunity for change. Somali authorities, civil society groups, and international partners all now recognize that this moment is pivotal—all parties must work constructively to overcome differences and embrace the nation’s collective future with caution and optimism alike.
As citizens across the capital prepare to participate in the voter registration drive set for Tuesday, international observers watching Somalia closely will undoubtedly hope this signals a steady progression towards genuine democracy, unity, and peace for the resilient Somali people.
Ultimately, the road ahead won’t be smooth or without imperfections, yet Somalia today stands closer to reclaiming a democratic identity long overshadowed by division. Astutely summarizing the sentiment sweeping Mogadishu streets, a community elder spoke eloquently after Sunday morning’s historic announcement, quoting an old Somali proverb: “Unity is strength, division is weakness. Let now be the time we choose unity.”
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
