Speaking to national media shortly after polls closed, NIEBC Chairperson Abdikarim Ahmed Hassan said voting began at 6:00 a.m. and officially ended at 6:00 p.m., noting that the process was calm, orderly, and well organized across Mogadishu’s districts.

“The voting process concluded peacefully this evening, and ballot counting will now begin,” Abdikarim said. He added that observers, representatives of political organizations, civil society groups, and members of the international community will be present throughout the counting process.

According to the chairperson, voter turnout was strong, with broad participation from all segments of society, including elders, youth, women, and political leaders, who cast their ballots smoothly throughout the day.

Abdikarim emphasized the commission’s commitment to transparency, pledging to provide regular updates to the public as counting progresses. He noted that the process is expected to be completed within a relatively short time frame.

He also expressed appreciation to the Somali Police Force for ensuring security, as well as to election workers, national and independent media, voters, and all stakeholders who contributed to what he described as a successful and credible election.

A total of approximately 1,605 candidates are competing for 390 seats across Mogadishu’s district councils. Once elected, council members will go on to select the mayor of Mogadishu.

The Banadir Regional Council elections represent the first one-person, one-vote polls held in Mogadishu in more than five decades, covering all 16 districts of the capital.

Somalia last conducted direct elections in 1969—excluding the semi-autonomous Puntland region and the breakaway Somaliland—months before the military coup led by Mohamed Siad Barre. Following the collapse of his regime in 1991 and years of civil war, the country adopted an indirect electoral system in 2004 to manage clan divisions amid persistent insecurity.

The Mogadishu vote is widely regarded as a critical test case for the potential expansion of direct elections at the national level.

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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.

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