Somalia Prepares for Landmark Local Council Elections Amid Opposition Fears

Somalia is on the cusp of its first one-person, one-vote local council elections in over half a century, with Mogadishu residents urged to get ready for the landmark event in November 2025. The National Electoral and Boundaries Commission has announced that voting in the Banadir region, which includes Mogadishu's 17 districts, is scheduled for November 30, 2025, despite opposition politicians rejecting the plan. The Commission aims to bring universal suffrage to Somalia, last practiced 56 years ago, by expanding voter registration to upcountry regions, including distant districts like Las Anod and Hudur.

Key Takeaways:

• The National Electoral and Boundaries Commission has announced November 30, 2025, as the date for the one-person, one-vote local council elections in the Banadir region.
• Over 950,000 people had registered to vote in the Banadir region as of September 30, with estimates suggesting the region hosts around four million people.
• The Commission plans to expand voter registration to upcountry regions, including Las Anod in the North East State and Hudur in the South West State.
• Only political movements that participate in grassroots elections will be eligible to compete in other tiers of the polls, including presidential contests later next year.
• The Commission expects political organisations to finalize legal requirements for their names and emblems to establish their identities.
• Dr. Salad Muse Ali, leader of the Somali Citizens Organisation, expressed enthusiasm for the election, calling it a step towards universal suffrage.
• The National Salvation Forum, led by former president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, has repeatedly issued statements calling the process "illegal."
• The Somali Future Council, a newly formed political alliance, aims to provide a unified voice and structured approach to national challenges, advocating for peace, stability, and inclusive politics in Somalia.

Statistics:

• Nearly one million people had registered to vote in the Banadir region as of September 30, 2025.
• The Banadir region hosts an estimated four million people, according to the Commission.
• The National Electoral and Boundaries Commission has expanded voter registration to upcountry regions, including distant districts like Las Anod and Hudur.

Sources:

• Abdikarim Ahmed Hassan, chairperson of the National Electoral and Boundaries Commission.
• Dr. Salad Muse Ali, leader of the Somali Citizens Organisation (Ali, 2025).
• The National Salvation Forum (The Forum, 2025).
• The Somali Future Council (Somali Future Council, 2025).
• Abdikarim Ahmed Hassan's announcement on voter registration and the elections (Hassan, 2025).