Somalis vote in the first one-person, one-vote election in decades

On Thu, Oct 26, 2023, Somalia conducted a significant local election in the capital, marking the first one-person, one-vote poll in the country since 1969. This election signifies a departure from the traditional clan-based power-sharing negotiations.

The election involved voting for local council members across Mogadishu's 16 districts. Organized by the federal government, this election faced rejection from opposition parties, which criticized it as flawed and biased.

Historically, Somalia has elected local council members and parliamentarians through clan-based negotiations, followed by presidential elections conducted by these leaders. Since 2016, there have been multiple promises to reintroduce universal suffrage elections, but these have been delayed due to security concerns and government-opposition disputes.

This election was overseen by the National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission. Up to 20 political parties participated by fielding candidates.

The election attracted significant voter interest, with over 900,000 registered voters and 523 polling stations in the central region. Security measures were heightened due to threats from the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab group.

Despite the election, the mayor of Mogadishu, who is also the governor of the central Banadir region, remains an appointed position. This is due to unresolved constitutional issues concerning the capital, which require national consensus. Current political rifts, notably between President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and the leaders of Jubaland and Puntland, complicate these reforms.

The conduct of this election is viewed as a significant step towards shifting away from Somalia's long-standing clan-based power-sharing system, although challenges remain in the political and security landscape.

Based on reporting by Africanews.