Mogadishu (Kaab TV) – Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Wednesday night called on residents of Mogadishu to turn out in large numbers for the one-person, one-vote local council elections scheduled for Thursday, describing the vote as a historic milestone in Somalia’s state-building process and democratic recovery.
In a nationally televised address, President Mohamud said the elections represent a defining moment in the restoration of Somali governance and statehood.
He noted that the introduction of direct voting reflects both improved security conditions in the capital and a decisive shift away from provisional political arrangements toward democratic legitimacy.
“The election is a clear indication of the return of governance and the improved security situation in Mogadishu,” the President said. He urged all eligible citizens with voter cards to exercise their constitutional right without fear or hesitation, emphasizing that the power to choose local representatives now firmly rests with the people.
President Mohamud underscored that participation in the vote is essential to shaping the future of Mogadishu’s districts, describing voting not only as a civic duty but also as a symbol of Somalia’s resilience and steady progress after decades of conflict.
He added that the elections are about more than filling local administrative posts, stressing that they are central to strengthening the democratic foundations of the Federal Republic of Somalia.
The President assured the public that extensive security measures had been put in place to guarantee a peaceful and orderly voting process across the capital.
His remarks came as security preparations intensified, with thousands of police officers deployed throughout Mogadishu. The National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (NIEBC) had earlier confirmed that all logistical arrangements were in place.
The first one-person, one-vote local council elections in Mogadishu in more than 50 years began on Thursday morning at polling stations across the capital’s 16 districts.
The vote is taking place amid strong opposition from Somalia’s main opposition coalition, the Somali Salvation Forum, which has rejected the process as neither free nor fair and accused the government of engineering a one-sided, one-party election.