Somalia’s Southwest State Holds Direct Elections as Opposition Boycotts Vote

Sunday May 10, 2026

Baidoa (AX) — Somalia’s Southwest State opened a new chapter in its political history on Sunday as voters went to the polls for direct elections to choose members of the regional House of Representatives and district councils, a significant break from the country’s entrenched indirect voting system.

The ballot was being conducted in 13 districts across Bay, Bakool and Lower Shabelle regions.

The National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission said 376,212 voters had registered to take part, including 164,716 men and 211,496 women. The commission said 4,781 registered voters were people with special needs.

From Baidoa, the chairman of the National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, Abdikariin Ahmed Hassan, announced the formal launch of the unified elections before reporters.

The polls are set to determine seats in the South West State House of Representatives and local councils, making them one of the most far-reaching direct voting exercises ever organized at the regional level in Somalia.

A total of 394 candidates from 15 political organizations are competing for seats in the House of Representatives. The field includes 322 men and 72 women.

In the local council races, 1,297 candidates from 18 political organizations are vying for positions across the 13 districts. Among them are 1,022 men and 275 women.

Election officials said the synchronized process was meant to bolster direct democratic governance at the local level, moving away from earlier arrangements in which political representatives were frequently chosen indirectly through clan elders and political brokers.

The vote, however, has faced pushback from opposition groups. The Somali Future Council, one of the country’s leading opposition alliances, boycotted the election and said the process lacked consensus.

The opposition has accused the federal government of steering the process and said the outcome was predetermined. Federal and regional election officials have not publicly endorsed those claims and have instead cast the vote as part of Somalia’s wider transition toward direct elections.

The South West State poll is taking place amid broader national arguments over Somalia’s electoral system, constitutional amendments and the future of political parties. Those disputes have intensified friction between President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s government and opposition leaders, who say the administration has pushed major political changes without enough agreement.