Mogadishu, Somalia – August 17, 2025 – Somalia has officially completed voter registration for the upcoming Mogadishu municipal council elections, scheduled for October 30, 2025, marking what authorities describe as a landmark moment in the nation’s democratic journey.
The Final List of Registered Voters for Mogadishu Municipal Council Elections
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), nearly one million residents of Mogadishu have registered to participate in the polls.
Commission Chairman Abdikarim Ahmed Hassan announced that the final list of registered voters will be published on August 27, underscoring the scale of public engagement in the capital.
“This is a historic milestone.
On October 30, the people of Mogadishu will head to the polls to elect members of the municipal council and the mayor,” Hassan told reporters.
Political Tensions Over Electoral Model
The announcement comes amid heightened political tensions regarding Somalia’s electoral system. Opposition leaders, including former presidents Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed (Farmaajo), have strongly rejected the government’s one-person, one-vote model.
They argued that it was introduced without broad consensus.
Talks held last week between President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and opposition figures ended without a breakthrough.
Opposition groups have warned of organizing parallel elections, calling the direct-voting process unilateral and unconstitutional.
Shift Away from Clan-Based System
Somalia’s last election in 2022 was conducted under the 4.5 clan-based power-sharing model, which distributed parliamentary seats equally among the four major clans and allocated a half-share to minority groups.
October vote would represent the first direct election in Somalia since 1967, signaling a potential shift away from decades of clan-based politics.
A Defining Moment for Democracy
Despite disputes, officials insist the Mogadishu municipal council elections will move forward as planned. If successful, they could serve as a blueprint for future nationwide elections, boosting hopes for political stability and democratic governance in Somalia.
