Somalia: Dabageed demands political agreement before elections in Hiiraan

Dabageed called for the process to involve political leaders, traditional chiefs, civil society, and other relevant stakeholders. He argued that no voting should be organized in Hiiraan until a compromise has been reached on the conditions for holding the elections.

This stance comes as the National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission maintains a schedule for simultaneous elections for local councils and the House of Representatives of Hirshabelle on September 30. The vote was initially set for August 20 before being postponed.

The revised schedule includes the announcement of polling stations on September 15, the distribution of voter cards starting September 16, the submission and verification of candidate lists on September 17, and the publication of the final electoral list on September 19.

The confrontation over the schedule is part of a broader electoral transition in Somalia towards direct voting. This development has already fueled institutional tensions surrounding constitutional and electoral reforms.

The official website of the electoral commission presents the voter registration campaign in Hirshabelle as a step towards implementing the principle of “one person, one vote.” The commission has urged political organizations, residents of Hirshabelle, and other stakeholders to prepare for the elections on September 30.