Somali president opens door to talks as Mogadishu holds first one-person, one-vote polls in decades
- Hassan Sheikh Mohamud says “all doors are open” for dialogue with opposition over Somalia’s electoral process
- Banadir Regional Council elections mark Mogadishu’s first direct vote in more than 50 years
- Citywide lockdown and flight suspensions imposed as security forces secure polling
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MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud pledged open dialogue with opposition leaders on Thursday and hailed Mogadishu’s return to one-person, one-vote balloting as a pivotal step toward democratic governance, after casting his ballot in the Banadir Regional Council elections.
Calling the polls “a historic moment,” Mohamud said the vote reflected political maturity and the implementation of constitutional principles, and he framed the process as a national milestone after decades of indirect elections.
“All doors are open” for dialogue and national reconciliation, he said, emphasizing that inclusive consultations are essential to build trust and unity as Somalia navigates complex electoral reforms. “The government is committed to consultation, transparency, and a peaceful political process.”
The Mogadishu vote — electing local councils across the capital’s 16 districts — is the city’s first one-person, one-vote election in more than 50 years. Somalia last held direct national elections in 1969, months before a military coup led by Mohamed Siad Barre. Following the collapse of his regime in 1991 and years of civil conflict, the country adopted an indirect, clan-based system in 2004 to manage political representation amid insecurity. (Direct voting in the semi-autonomous Puntland State region and in the breakaway North Western State of Somalia has followed separate trajectories.)
Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre also cast his ballot and visited several districts where voting was underway, commending election officials and security forces for their work.
Authorities imposed sweeping security measures across the capital to safeguard the vote, restricting traffic and suspending all flights at Aden Adde International Airport. Mohamud praised Mogadishu residents for turning out despite the lockdown and credited security services and electoral bodies with facilitating what he described as a peaceful process.
Opposition figures have welcomed the principle of universal suffrage while voicing concern over the pace and design of the rollout. Some argue the shift could favor Mohamud’s re-election prospects and say the government must do more to ensure a level playing field and an agreed roadmap for broader implementation.
Security remains the most persistent worry. Al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabaab retains influence in rural areas and continues to target population centers, fueling doubts among critics about whether conditions are adequate for mass voting. The government says tighter coordination between security agencies and local administrations is gradually expanding space for political participation.
With Mogadishu home to an estimated three million people, the Banadir Regional Council elections are widely seen as a test case for scaling up direct voting nationwide. The outcome will shape not only local governance but also confidence in Somalia’s capacity to administer credible, secure polls under a universal suffrage system.
For now, Mohamud’s message is one of inclusion and caution: engage the opposition, keep channels of communication open, and build momentum toward wider direct elections — without losing sight of the security imperatives that have long constrained Somalia’s democratic ambitions.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
