Somali Election Commission Warns Banadir Districts: Ensure Free Campaigning, Smooth Voter Card Distribution

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s Independent National Electoral Commission on Thursday issued a formal warning to district administrations across the Banadir region, ordering them to ensure an open campaign environment and unhindered distribution of voter cards as the election period intensifies in Mogadishu and its surrounding districts.

In a directive circulated to local officials, the Commission said political organizations and candidates are legally entitled to campaign without interference, and citizens must be able to obtain their voter cards without obstruction. It cautioned that any action that disrupts election staff or foments insecurity that could erode public trust “will not be tolerated,” underscoring that the mandate of district administrations is to facilitate, not hinder, electoral activities.

The letter lays out clear expectations for Banadir’s district leadership, calling for immediate compliance with electoral law and operational standards designed to protect both political participation and public safety. The Commission said it will address legitimate complaints submitted by political organizations through the proper channels but warned against behavior that undermines transparency or cooperation in the process.

• Guarantee a free and enabling environment for political organizations to conduct election campaigns.
• Ensure citizens can collect voter cards smoothly and without obstruction at designated points.
• Do not interfere with the lawful campaign activities of candidates and political organizations.
• Refrain from any action that disrupts the work of election staff or heightens insecurity.
• Channel legitimate grievances through formal complaint mechanisms and support transparent resolution.

INEC’s intervention targets the Banadir region, home to the capital, where administrative decisions and security conditions have an outsized impact on public confidence in the electoral process. The Commission said it expects full cooperation from district administrations so that electoral services are delivered “in an equitable, transparent, secure and lawful manner.”

While the Commission did not outline specific punitive measures, the warning signals heightened scrutiny of local conduct around campaign activities and voter card distribution. The emphasis on operational freedom for political organizations and noninterference by district authorities underlines a broader concern: that even administrative delays or low-level obstruction can ripple quickly through Mogadishu’s dense political environment and discourage citizens from engaging in the vote.

By reminding officials that legitimate complaints will be heard and adjudicated, INEC also sought to channel political contention into formal processes instead of ad hoc measures that could compromise election logistics or security. The guidance reflects a balancing act familiar to election bodies everywhere: safeguarding access and fairness while ensuring order and accountability around polling infrastructure and personnel.

The Commission’s public confidence note—coupled with its warning—places responsibility squarely on district administrations to protect access to campaign venues, respect the independence of election workers and create predictable conditions for voter card collection. With campaign activity accelerating, the clarity of Thursday’s directive is a bid to reduce friction on the ground and reassure voters that the path to participation remains open.

The Commission reiterated that it expects all involved—district officials, political organizations and election staff—to uphold the law and cooperate fully. The message from Mogadishu was straightforward: facilitate the process, resolve disputes transparently and ensure that citizens can exercise their rights without interference or intimidation.

By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.