A demonstration led by local forces, women, and youth took place in Abudwak, while clashes erupted at two hotels where members of the disputed Electoral Commission were staying.

Locals told KAAB TV that clan militias have entered the town, and tensions remain high.

Local men and women gathered in the town’s centre on Tuesday as the denounced the registration process which was set to begin in Abudwak.

Daud Mohamed, a member of the Abudwak youth, said protests might continue in the coming days, and there is growing concern that the situation could escalate into violence.

Other parts of Galmudug have also rejected similar voter registration efforts, with residents of Abudwak stating they do not want to participate in what they call a controversial federal-led process.

Opposition politicians said the people of Abudwak have been denied development projects and have no meaningful role in the electoral process, which has led them to reject it.

They accused President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of trying to subjugate the people of Galgadud by enforcing a unilateral electoral process controlled by himself.

“No election dictated by a single politician should be allowed. This is the position supported by the Somali Salvation Forum,” said Mohamed Adan Kofi, a presidential candidate for the Galmudug region.

The post Abudwak Residents Reject Controversial Voter Registration As Armed Militia Enter Town appeared first on Kaab TV.

Firdhiye urged all residents to participate in the registration process to align with other federal system administrations recognized by the Federal Government of Somalia.

“Our people must participate in the elections, organize themselves, and register fully. We must engage with the country’s other administrations. I have full confidence that the people of North East will make these national elections a success,” Firdhiye said.

However, the announcement comes amid controversy.

Last Saturday, Firdhiye himself was elected through an indirect vote process widely criticized for alleged bribery of newly elected representatives under the administration formed by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

A KaaB TV investigation, based on interviews with MPs and other sources, revealed how millions of dollars in cash were used to bribe the regional MPs, who had been handpicked just last month by their clan elders.

Questions remain about how a one-person-one-vote election could be implemented with only eight months left in Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s term.

Opposition alliances have rejected the process, and in many parts of the country, the terrorist group Al-Shabaab continues to exert full control.

This voter registration drive, while framed as a step toward civic engagement, raises concerns over transparency, legitimacy, and the influence of money in Puntland’s political process.

The post Firdhiye Opens Voter Registration Despite Coming to Power Through Bribery-Marred Indirect Vote appeared first on Kaab TV.

The criticism came at the close of a three-day opposition conference in Mogadishu, which included consultations with civil society groups, women, elders, and business leaders.

In a strongly worded statement, the Opposition Forum warned that the current trajectory of political decision-making under President Hassan Sheikh risks destabilizing Somalia’s recent security gains.

“This is a dangerous turn that could undo years of hard-won progress,” the statement read.

Allegations of Partisan Politics and Marginalization

The forum accused the president of marginalizing key federal member states—particularly Puntland and Jubaland—while promoting loyal administrations in South West, Galmudug, and Hirshabelle.

These regional leaders, the statement noted, have recently joined the president’s Union for Peace and Development Party (JSP), in what opposition leaders call a coordinated move to consolidate power.

“The illegal term extensions, partisan alignments, and dismantling of the National Consultative Council (NCC) point to President Hassan Sheikh’s authoritarian ambitions and a strategy to engineer a one-man election,” the communiqué asserted.

The group also condemned corruption, land grabbing, and the alleged misuse of public resources.

They raised alarm over secretive deals signed with foreign companies and governments involving Somalia’s natural resources—including oil, minerals, and fisheries—which they claim have enriched a small elite closely tied to the president’s family.

Press Freedom and Civil Liberties

The opposition expressed grave concern over increasing restrictions on press freedom. They cited a recent spike in journalist arrests and equipment seizures, particularly targeting reporters covering the controversial forced voter registration in Mogadishu.

“These actions are unacceptable and only worsen the already precarious safety of Somali journalists,” the statement added.

Calling for a return to constitutional order, the forum denounced the unlawful amendments allegedly made by the president to the Provisional Federal Constitution.

They urged the formation of an independent electoral commission and demanded inclusive, transparent elections.

“We call for an urgent national dialogue involving all stakeholders—federal leaders, state authorities, and opposition figures—to steer the country away from political collapse and the threat of extremism,” the leaders said.

Call for Renewed Dialogue with Somaliland

The group also urged a restart of stalled talks between Somalia and Somaliland, which broke down after Somaliland suspended negotiations.

The move followed what Hargeisa viewed as provocations by Mogadishu, including Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre’s visit to Las Anod.

The joint statement was endorsed by a host of influential Somali political figures, including: Former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, Former Parliament Speakers Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden and Mohamed Mursal Abdirahman, Former Prime Ministers Abdi Farah Shirdon, Mohamed Hussein Roble, Hassan Ali Khaire, and Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke, MP Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame and MP Abdikadir Osoble Ali, Former Foreign Minister Ahmed Issa Awad, Former Ministers Abdinur Sheikh Mohamed, Abdullahi Abukar Haji, and Dahir Mohamud Geelle (who recently resigned as a presidential advisor).

The Mogadishu conference took place amid growing political tensions, with the opposition warning that without course correction, Somalia risks sliding back into authoritarianism and instability.

The post Somalia Opposition Slams President Hassan Sheikh’s Electoral Agenda, Warns of Democratic Backsliding appeared first on Kaab TV.

Maryan Jeylani Maye, a mother of seven residing in a makeshift shelter on the outskirts of the capital, says she was kidnapped, forced into a vehicle, and threatened with the loss of food assistance if she did not register and have her photo taken.

“They told us we should register in order to receive food,” Maryan recounted.

“After they took our photos and names, they said it’s for a vote—and that we must vote for Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.”

Similar accounts have emerged from IDP communities in the Weydow area, Dayniile, and Kaxda districts.

Residents say local district commissioners gathered groups of displaced people and transported them by bus for registration.

Saido Mohamud, another IDP woman, said they were promised $25 in mobile money after registering but received nothing.

“They told us we’d get $25 via EVC if we registered, but we went home empty-handed,” she said, adding that the middleman in charge allegedly stole the money.

Maryan described the entire operation as a deceitful tactic that preyed on vulnerable people through false promises of aid.

“It’s a trap. They used food to manipulate us,” she said.

Somalia currently has more than 3.45 million internally displaced persons (IDPs), most of whom were forced from their homes due to conflict, drought, and floods.

According to the Danish Refugee Council, approximately 84% of Somalia’s IDPs live in urban areas, with Mogadishu alone hosting between 400,000 and 518,000 people.

Many reside in overcrowded, informal settlements without secure shelter, food, or access to healthcare.

Malnutrition remains widespread, particularly among children and pregnant women.

Girls and young women in these settlements face increased vulnerability to exploitation.

Aid workers and community members report incidents of forced labor, sexual violence, and prostitution linked to extreme poverty and hunger.

The lack of protection mechanisms only deepens the risks.

Universities in Mogadishu have also raised concerns about similar pressure tactics. Administrators say they have received threats from the same commission, warning that institutions refusing to register students, lecturers, and staff will face punitive action, including closure and the use of security forces.

Opposition MP Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame condemned the reports, calling the commission’s actions “disgraceful” and “illegitimate.”

In a statement posted to social media, he wrote: “We strongly condemn the disgraceful act by the one-sided electoral committee pressuring universities in the capital to forcibly register students, lecturers, and university staff.  The committee has threatened any university that refuses to comply with their decision, warning that they will take action against them using security forces.”

The commission, which was formed in late 2024 by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, is led by Abdikarim Ahmed Hassan—a member of the president’s political party and campaign officer.

Former friends also say Abdikarin was a former fighter in the Hawiye militia that played a key role in Mogadishu’s destruction during the 1991 civil war.

When contacted by this reporter, neither Abdikarim nor the commission responded to requests for comment.

The commission’s formation and planned electoral process have been widely rejected by opposition parties and two federal member states namely Puntland and Jubaland.

With elections expected ahead of the 2026 deadline marking the end of President Mohamud’s term, many critics fear the process is a pretext to extend his rule—risking renewed instability in Somalia’s fragile political landscape.

The post Displaced Women in Mogadishu Say They Are Being Coerced Into Electoral Registration appeared first on Kaab TV.