Several registered political parties deny being listed as Banadir election candidates

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Several Somali political organizations have rejected the National Electoral Commission’s announcement that 20 groups are registered for the December 25 local council elections in the Banadir region, accusing the commission of violating electoral law and operating under political influence.

Representatives from the organizations told reporters in Mogadishu on Sunday that five rounds of talks with the National Electoral Commission (NEC) “ended in vain,” arguing the body lacks the independence required to run the Mogadishu vote impartially. They warned that government interference and the misuse of national resources have undermined the process and urged swift action to prevent election-related conflict.

The dispute throws fresh uncertainty over the first local council elections planned in Banadir, which encompasses the capital, Mogadishu. It also raises the prospect of a ballot with limited competition if most registered groups decline to participate.

• What’s new: Groups that initially registered say they were wrongly counted among the 20 organizations the NEC says are cleared for the Banadir local council elections.
• Why it matters: The challenge questions the credibility and independence of the electoral process in Somalia’s most populous region and political center.
• What the NEC has said: The commission previously announced that 20 political organizations had formally submitted candidate lists for Mogadishu’s December 25 vote.

According to the NEC, 61 organizations initially registered to take part in the Banadir elections. On November 24, the commission extended the deadline for submitting candidate lists by two weeks, setting the window from November 25 to December 10. Despite that extension, most registered organizations now appear unlikely to be on the ballot, based on Sunday’s collective pushback.

Representatives accused the authorities of exerting political pressure over the commission’s work and said concessions made by political organizations during negotiations had not been honored. They emphasized that the NEC must conduct its duties independently, free of interference, to ensure a credible vote in Mogadishu.

They also appealed to Somali citizens, religious leaders, civil society groups, politicians, women, and youth to step in to prevent the country from sliding into confrontation over the Banadir elections. The call reflects wider concern that a disputed process in the capital could destabilize the broader political climate.

While the NEC’s announcement effectively narrowed the field to 20 political organizations, questions remain over which groups will ultimately appear on the ballot and whether the commission will address the organizations’ objections before the December 25 vote. The standoff adds pressure on election authorities to clarify the final list and demonstrate impartial administration of the process.

With the election date approaching, the credibility of the Banadir local council contest will hinge on two urgent issues: whether the NEC can reassure stakeholders of its independence and whether aggrieved organizations choose to re-engage or step aside. Either outcome will shape voter confidence and the perceived legitimacy of Mogadishu’s first local poll under this framework.

For now, political groups disputing the NEC’s list say the process remains compromised and are urging intervention to avert a crisis. The commission’s next steps — and any public explanations it provides — could determine whether the December 25 election proceeds with broad participation or under a cloud of contention.

By Ali Musa

Axadle Times international–Monitoring.