Somali parties say electoral body ignored concerns on December 25 Mogadishu polls
Several Somali political organisations in Mogadishu say the electoral commission ignored their concerns and misrepresented their participation in the December 25 Banadir local council elections, raising doubts over the process.
Several registered political organisations in Somalia have rejected claims that they are among the 20 groups approved by the National Electoral Commission (NEC) to take part in the Banadir local council elections scheduled for December 25, stating that the commission’s announcement does not reflect their position or consent.
The organisations made their stance clear during a press conference in Mogadishu, where representatives accused the commission of violating electoral law and failing to uphold the principles necessary to manage an election process. They also raised concerns about the credibility and conduct of the vote planned later this month.
More To Read
- UN Security Council extends sanctions oversight on Al-Shabaab
- AfDB grants full debt relief to Somalia after decades of economic turmoil
- Trump faces rising backlash over remarks targeting Somali immigrants
- Somalia welcomes first group of Sudanese students under new scholarship programme
- Mogadishu’s Hamarweyne market shut for third day amid tax dispute
- How to make sweet and savoury plantains at home
The speakers said that repeated engagement with the commission had yielded no results and that their concerns were ignored despite multiple attempts to resolve the dispute through dialogue and consultation, which they argued undermined trust in both the process and the institution responsible for overseeing it.
Talks ended in vain
“Five rounds of talks with the commission ended in vain because there is no independence for the authorities to exercise their powers impartially. Many concessions that the political registered organisations have endured have yielded nothing. It is clear that the commission cannot carry out its work independently,” the groups said in a joint statement read to the media.
The representatives claimed that the electoral process had been affected by interference from political actors and the use of state resources, asserting that such actions weaken the foundations of an election and deny political organisations equal treatment under the law, which they described as essential for any credible vote.
They stressed that the National Electoral Commission must operate without influence from government institutions or political groups, warning that a failure to maintain separation between the commission and those in power could lead to disputes and a loss of public confidence in the election outcome.
Help maintain peace
The groups also called on the Somali public to help maintain peace during the election period, urging religious leaders, civil society organisations, political actors, women, and young people to act responsibly and prevent the electoral process from becoming a source of conflict or unrest in the capital.
They emphasised that the responsibility for stability does not rest with institutions alone, adding that citizens and community leaders have a role in ensuring that political disagreements do not escalate into violence, particularly at a time when the country faces multiple governance and security challenges.
Earlier, the National Electoral Commission announced that 20 political organisations had submitted candidate lists for the Banadir local council elections, a process the commission said followed procedures set out in the electoral framework governing local administration.
Nomination requirements
Out of 61 political organisations that registered at the start of the process, the commission said only 20 had completed the nomination requirements within the initial timeframe, prompting questions from other groups who claimed they were excluded or misrepresented.
The commission later extended the nomination deadline by two weeks, allowing political organisations to submit candidate lists between November 25 and December 10, a move it said was intended to allow more groups to participate.
Despite the extension, several organisations said they opted not to participate due to concerns about the conduct of the process, suggesting that most registered political organisations will not be involved in the local council elections in Mogadishu on December 25.
Top Stories Today
