Somali Electoral Commission Confirms 12 Political Organizations for Banadir District Elections

MOGADISHU — The Somali Electoral Commission said Monday that a dozen political organizations have submitted candidate lists for the December 25 district elections in the Banadir region, marking a significant step toward the first such vote held in the capital in more than 50 years.

Commission Chairman Abdikarin Ahmed Hassan told reporters in Mogadishu that the 12 organizations have collectively put forward hundreds of names toward the required slate of 390 candidates per party. Some groups have completed their submissions, while others are finalizing their lists ahead of the deadline.

The commission identified the organizations that have filed so far as:

• Ramaas
• Towfiiq
• Karaama
• SAAB
• National Unity and Development Organization
• Somali Citizens Organization
• Shacabka Unity Organization
• National Democratic Organization
• National Values Organization
• Madalsan Organization
• Somali Good Government Organization
• Somali Justice and Solidarity Organization

Hassan said distribution of voter cards is proceeding across all Banadir districts, even as officials acknowledge that the number of cards issued to date remains significantly lower than the nearly one million people who have registered to vote. He urged political organizations to expedite their candidate submissions and administrative requirements to keep the process on schedule and in line with electoral law.

The commission set December 20 as the final deadline for candidate lists, leaving parties less than two weeks to complete filings, verify documentation and resolve any outstanding eligibility issues. Election materials and logistics, including voter card issuance, are being scaled up in the same window as the commission seeks to consolidate the voter roll before polling day.

While the commission did not release a full breakdown of how many candidates each organization has submitted so far, it said the volume reflects broad engagement by political groups in Mogadishu’s district-level race. The December 25 vote in Banadir is expected to serve as a test of administrative capacity and public confidence in a process that has been absent from the capital for a generation.

Organizers describe the contest as a critical step toward strengthening local governance and accountability in the capital, where district councils are expected to play a more visible role in community services and urban management. The commission has framed its push on deadlines and documentation as a bid to ensure transparency and adherence to procedures designed to protect the credibility of the vote.

With filing deadlines approaching, the commission said it will continue mobilizing resources to accelerate voter card distribution and reinforce public information efforts on where and how to collect cards. It also encouraged citizens who have registered to confirm their details and collect their cards in advance to avoid delays on election day.

Polling in Banadir remains scheduled for December 25. The commission said it will provide further updates on candidate verification, ballot preparation and district-level logistics as the deadline nears.

By Ali Musa

Axadle Times international–Monitoring.