President Mohamud Casts Ballot, Says Mogadishu Elections Mark ‘New Path’ for Nation

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Wednesday cast his ballot in Mogadishu’s local council elections, describing the vote as a turning point for Somalia’s political future even as opposition groups continued to reject the process.

Speaking to journalists after voting, the president framed the elections as a national moment that transcends political divisions.

“Whether opposition or supporter, this is the future of Somalia. Today, a new path has opened for our nation,” he said.

The vote marks the first local council elections in the capital in more than five decades and is being conducted across hundreds of polling stations in the Banaadir region. Federal authorities have presented the exercise as a critical step toward restoring direct elections and strengthening local governance ahead of planned national polls next year.

However, the elections have unfolded against a backdrop of political disagreement. Opposition leaders and groups aligned under the Salvation Forum have publicly rejected the vote, citing concerns over the credibility of the process, voter eligibility, and the overall political environment in Mogadishu. They have warned that they will not recognize the outcome announced by the electoral authorities.

Despite the objections, polling proceeded under heavy security, with election officials reporting orderly voting in several districts. Government officials insist the exercise represents gradual but necessary progress in a country where most citizens have never participated in a direct vote.

The contrasting reactions underscore the broader tension surrounding Somalia’s transition to one-person, one-vote elections, highlighting both the symbolic importance of the Mogadishu polls and the unresolved political divisions that continue to shape the country’s democratic journey.