Somalia launches disputed voter registration in Mogadishu amid political divide
Federal government moves ahead with one-person, one-vote elections despite opposition from key states and critics
MOGADISHU, Somalia (MNTV) – Somalia’s Federal Electoral Commission launched a controversial voter registration process in Mogadishu’s Shangaani district, marking the start of a deeply disputed plan to implement one-person, one-vote elections.
Commission chairperson Abdikarim Ahmed Hassan, a former member of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s political circle, described the initiative as a critical milestone in Somalia’s democratic development.
“I am pleased to announce the official start of voter registration,” Hassan told reporters at the launch.
The registration, held inside a government facility, drew large crowds, mostly consisting of civil servants, military personnel, and senior government officials, reported the local sources.
Among the first to register was Khadija Mohamed Al-Makhzoumi, Minister of Women and Human Rights Development and a sitting Member of Parliament.
“This is a clear step forward, showing that our country is officially moving toward one-person, one-vote elections. History is being made, God willing. Somalia will succeed,” Al-Makhzoumi wrote in a Facebook post.
The minister, who registered in her home district of Shangaani, is also known for her vocal support of President Mohamud.
Her husband, Abdikarin Guled, is a close presidential ally and member of the president’s political party.However, the voter registration process has sparked growing controversy.
Opposition groups and some federal member states, particularly Puntland and Jubaland, have denounced the plan, viewing it as an effort by the federal government to extend President Mohamud’s term.
Banadir’s Deputy Governor for Security, Mohamed Ahmed Yabooh, acknowledged logistical challenges.
While authorities initially planned to carry out registration in 20 districts, only nine have been deemed ready.
“A total of 163 polling sites were planned across the country, but the current phase will only proceed in the nine districts that are prepared. The rest will follow once they’re ready,” Yabooh said.
The registration drive is part of a broader electoral roadmap tied to recent constitutional amendments enacted by the federal government.
Those changes led to the formation of the new Federal Electoral Commission, but have since been rejected by opposition parties and key regional administrations.
The National Consultative Council, once tasked with overseeing electoral processes, has remained dormant for months following the withdrawal of Puntland and Jubaland, both of which no longer recognize the federal government’s electoral authority.
International partners have also expressed concern, withholding full endorsement of the new electoral framework amid fears that the process may escalate political instability in the country.
With one year remaining in President Mohamud’s term, critics warn that the unilateral voter registration initiative may be part of a broader strategy to delay elections and consolidate federal power in Mogadishu.
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