Mogadishu starts voter registration ahead of Somalia’s historic elections in over 50 years

Residents of the Shangaani district in Mogadishu, Somalia, queue to register as voters on April 15, 2025. (Photo: SNTV)

By Hassan Mohamed
Tuesday, April 15, 2025

Past elections were indirect, with elders and clan representatives selecting leaders. Until now, civic leaders in Mogadishu were appointed by the president.

Residents of Shangaani district, the oldest district in the Somali capital Mogadishu, have become the first to register as voters for the upcoming local council elections, scheduled for the end of June. These will be the first such elections in the country in more than half a century.

The last voter registration and subsequent election in Mogadishu took place in 1969.

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In a bid to encourage mass participation, the Governor of Banadir Region and Mayor of Mogadishu, Mohamed Ahmed Amiir, was the first to register and receive a voter’s card on Tuesday.

Hundreds of residents turned up at the registration venue, located within local council premises. Security was tight, and long queues were observed throughout the day.

The Chairman of the National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (NIEBC), Abdikarim Ahmed Hassan, welcomed the start of the registration and confirmed it would continue for one month. He urged residents to register in large numbers.

“The reason we started the registration in Shangaani district is because it was the first ever district in Mogadishu in Banaadir region in 1928. It is an old district, and we are happy to see the first day of registration going on peacefully,” he told reporters at the registration centre.

City officials confirmed that all 16 districts in Mogadishu will host similar voter registration exercises. These are expected to run until the end of June, when residents will have the opportunity to elect their local leaders.

“Today is a historic day after more than 51 years later residents of Mogadishu have today moved towards preparing to elect their leaders of choice. I wish to urge all residents of Mogadishu to register as voters,” Mayor Amiir said.

Banaadir Regional Police Commander Mahdi Omar Mumin described the registration as very peaceful and called on residents to continue cooperating with the police to ensure the safety and security of the city.

“We wish to urge residents of Mogadishu to heed the orders and directives of the electoral commission, and I wish to all the youth and everyone else to support this exercise so that the registration is successful. We look forward to the registration to taking place peacefully in all the 16 districts of Mogadishu,” the police commander said.

Excitement was palpable in Shangaani, with many residents experiencing the opportunity to register to vote for the first time.

“I am so happy to have registered as a voter. This is the first time in my life, and I look forward to finally electing leaders of my choice. I urge the public to come out and register because our country is making history and we want to be at par with other countries,” said 49-year-old Mohamed Jeylani.

Hassan Adan, a 29-year-old fruit vendor and father of two, said he closed his business for the day to ensure he was registered.

"People came out in large numbers to register today. I couldn't miss out as we want to make history. I have never voted in my life, so for us, these are exciting moments which we hope will bring stability to our country. We hope and pray the elections will be peaceful," he told The Eastleigh Voice.

Amal Ahmed, another resident, noted that not everyone had been able to register due to a lack of national identification cards, which are required for the process.

"We welcome the voter registration, but the government must ensure all eligible voters have ID cards. I couldn't register because I still don't have my ID card, so this is a big challenge and an impediment," she told The Eastleigh Voice