In a historic step toward democratic reform, Somalia will launch its first voter registration drive in decades on Tuesday, ahead of local elections scheduled for June.
The move marks the first time since 1967 that residents of the capital, Mogadishu, will formally register to vote. “This is a momentous occasion for Somalia,” said Abdikarim Ahmed Hassan, chairperson of the electoral commission. “It’s the first time in almost 50 years that citizens in Mogadishu are preparing to cast their vote in local elections.”
The registration initiative is part of a broader shift away from Somalia’s traditional clan-based political system. In 2023, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud pledged to establish a one-person, one-vote system, replacing the long-standing 4.5 clan-sharing model. Under that system, parliamentary seats were allocated to major clans and smaller minority groups rather than individual citizens casting ballots.
Since then, Somalia’s Cabinet has approved key electoral reform bills, laying the groundwork for direct presidential elections, which are tentatively set for 2026.
The last time Somalia held direct nationwide elections was in 1967, before decades of political instability, military rule, and civil conflict. The new registration effort is being hailed as a critical milestone in the country’s democratic development and a sign of renewed political momentum.
