Puntland State concludes civic elections, the first in southern Somalia

Puntland State of Somalia held its first-ever universal civic elections on Tuesday, the first in Somalia in more than a half-century, with three last districts voting after elections were postponed in May due to security concerns.

More than 37, 000 voters in the capital Garowe, Dangorayo, and Godobjiiran districts poured into polling stations to elect their local council representative. Eight political parties squared off against each other for 81 available seats.

This election is a crucial milestone in Somalia's fledgling democratic process, as citizens now can directly elect their leaders. Previously, clan representatives elected leaders through indirect elections.

The completion of the civic elections in Puntland is vital for the effective functions of local councils to deliver services to the people. The political parties taking part are Mideeye, Kaah, Horseed, Mustaqbal, Ifiye, Shaqaalaha, Runcad, and Sincad.

For many of the voters in Puntland, this was their first time to vote.

Fifty-eight-year-old Abdirahman Abdisalan is one of those who voted for the first in his home district of Godobjiiran in the Nugaal region. Voters from all walks of life, young and old, even the disabled were not left behind. Regional and international election observers were also present and praised Puntland for the historic elections.

Beaming with excitement, Abdisalan said he is happy to be part of history and to help his country do away with the corrupt clan-based indirect elections Somalia has only known since the revival of the State in 2000. Somaliland, a northwest enclave holds the record for being the first to conduct direct elections in northern Somalia.

"I am 58 years old and have never taken part in an election. Today I am choosing a leader who will work for the people and country. We are glad to have left behind the clan-based indirect elections which were corrupt and unfair. That is now history. This universal election is free and fair, and everyone chooses whoever they want," he said.

An elderly man casts his vote in Puntland State civic elections. Photo: Puntland Ministry of Interior

A day after the polls closed and votes were counted, no party emerged winner in the three districts. Provisional results issued by Puntland Electoral Commission (PEC) show that the ruling party Kaah won most of the seats but was short of winning a majority. It got 12 seats followed by Horseed 6 seats and Sincad came third in Garowe with 5 seats. The rest of the parties got 2 seats each.

In the May elections in 30 other districts, the ruling party Kaah managed to get 286 seats out of 774 total civic seats in Puntland State corresponding to 37 percent. This now means Kaah has won 298 seats in the first democratic elections in which more than 400, 000 voters took part, followed by Mideeye 221 and Ifiye 82.

PEACEFUL ELECTIONS

Nugaal Region Election Head Mohamud Abdirahman announced the provisional results, a day after votes were cast. He thanked voters for exercising their democratic rights of voting peacefully and said there were no major security issues.

"I want to thank the voters for conducting themselves with decorum, I also want to thank election commission staff and the security forces for their work and everyone who took part in the success of the exercise which ended peacefully," Abdirahman said.

On Tuesday, speaking moments after the election ended, Puntland's President said moving forward elections in Puntland will be similar where voters get an opportunity to directly elect their leaders and hope the rest of Somalia will borrow a leaf from them.

"This is a big achievement for the Somali people and particularly for Puntland. This direct election has closed an old chapter of indirect elections. I hope the people of Puntland have learnt now the benefit to directly elect their leaders and I hope the rest of Somalia can borrow a cue from our experience so that they also hold direct elections," President Deni said after voting ended.

Men seen waiting to vote during Puntland State civic elections on Tuesday in Garowe. Photo: Puntland Ministry of Interior

The one-person one-vote election in Puntland marks significant progress in Somalia's increasing democratic space. Past elections in Somalia have been indirect where clan representatives pick leaders on behalf of the masses.

Haji Isse Farah Nur told reporters in the capital Garowe that he last cast his vote in 1968. He is elated to have participated in his second election, 56 years later aged 70.

"This election has allowed us to elect the leaders we want, and I welcome this golden opportunity," elder Nur said after casting his vote.

Somalia hopes to hold one-person one-vote elections in 2026. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud promised to prepare the country for this major exercise. He has since passed crucial legislation in parliament to help set up the country for universal elections.

Coincidentally, Puntland State was unhappy with the constitutional changes in parliament spearheaded by President Mohamud accusing him of mutilating the constitution. The debate continues in parliament.

The biggest obstacle to Somalia holding a universal election is insecurity. President Mohamud, since his re-election in 2022 has prioritised the war on Al-Shabaab, Somalia's biggest enemy to its peace.

The government is slowly winning the war and has since liberated large swathes of land from Al-Shabaab and hopes to further weaken the terrorists and hold its first direct elections in more than half a century.