MOGADISHU — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud urged Mogadishu residents to turn out for the Banadir local council elections later this month, calling the vote a historic step toward one-person, one-vote democracy and the first time in nearly 57 years that citizens will directly choose their local leaders.
Speaking Saturday after collecting his own voter card, Mohamud framed the December ballot as both a civic right and a personal responsibility with tangible consequences for daily life in the capital.
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“You choose who will rule you, and you leave the one who is not worthy,” the president said, encouraging voters to judge candidates on ability, knowledge, skills and social responsibility rather than on appointment or coercion. He warned that campaign promises would be plentiful in the coming days and pressed residents to hold those elected accountable once in office.
Mohamud described the launch of local voting as an “indisputable milestone” in Somalia’s political evolution and said the government has taken initial steps toward fulfilling its pledge to deliver direct, one-person, one-vote elections.
“The voting card is your personal property. It is proof of citizenship and gives you the right to decide your future, the future of your children, your security, your environment, and the services you need,” he said.
The president’s appeal comes amid a lag between registration and voter card collection. According to the National Electoral and Boundaries Commission, nearly 200,000 voters have so far received their voter cards, even as almost one million people registered for the Banadir polls. Mohamud urged Mogadishu residents to bridge that gap by picking up their cards and participating fully in the process.
He underscored that decisions made at the district level are often the most immediate and visible to the public, shaping municipal services, security, neighborhood infrastructure and local governance. “District-level choices directly affect how the city is run,” he said, emphasizing that civic participation begins closest to home.
The Banadir district council elections are expected to be held on Dec. 25, 2025. Authorities and candidates are intensifying outreach as the voting day approaches, with officials urging residents to verify their registration details and ensure they have collected their cards in time for polling.
Mohamud positioned the upcoming vote as a test of civic engagement as much as a measure of institutional readiness, telling residents that the credibility of local government will be strengthened when communities make informed choices at the ballot box. He urged citizens to scrutinize campaign platforms and assess whether the candidates’ track records and proposals align with the city’s priorities.
The president’s remarks reflect a broader push to normalize electoral participation across Somalia and to reinforce the link between citizens and the services they depend on. In Mogadishu, he noted, that connection begins with turning registration into turnout: picking up a card, showing up at the polling station and voting for representatives “capable of serving the public with integrity.”
With just days to go before Election Day, officials reiterated that distribution centers remain open for those who have not collected their cards, and they encouraged residents to spread the word in their neighborhoods. “Your vote is your voice,” Mohamud said. “Use it to decide your future.”
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
