Somalia Begins Historic Voter Registration After 56 Years

Somalia has embarked on a landmark voter registration process, marking the first time in 56 years that citizens will participate in a one-person, one-vote election. The National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (NIEBC) launched the registration drive in Mogadishu and plans to expand to other federal states.

The country last held a universal suffrage election in 1969 when President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was 15 years old. Since then, elections relied on indirect voting, where clan elders and delegates selected members of parliament. In 2022, 14,200 delegates chose 328 MPs and senators, who then elected the president.

This registration marks a significant step toward democratic governance. Citizens have turned up in large numbers, defying security threats from Al-Shabaab. Unlike previous elections, where delegates concealed their identities out of fear, voters now openly participate in the process.

The NIEBC aims to register four million voters nationwide, including 1.5 million from Mogadishu. The commission has worked tirelessly to ensure success, holding late-night meetings and coordinating efforts to reach as many eligible voters as possible.

At registration centers, long queues have formed as citizens eagerly wait their turn to be listed in the voter register. Special provisions prioritize the elderly and physically disabled individuals. The commission calls this a lifetime opportunity for many Somalis who have never voted before.

The registration process will continue until May 15, 2025, before expanding to other federal states. These include South West, Jubbaland, Puntland, Hirshabelle, Galmudug, and Somaliland. The NIEBC assures the public of its commitment to overseeing credible and transparent elections at all levels of government.