Mogadishu Police to Restrict Movement to Secure Landmark Local Elections

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Police in Mogadishu will impose sweeping restrictions on vehicle and public movement across the country’s capital on Thursday, Dec. 25, as authorities seek to secure the capital’s first direct local council elections in more than five decades.

The Somali Police Force said the measures are intended to create a secure environment that allows residents to vote without disruption, amid heightened security concerns. Police Commissioner Brigadier General Asad Osman Abdullahi (Diyaano) issued the directive after an emergency security meeting with senior commanders and heads of special units.

Police said forces will remain on high alert throughout election day to prevent any incidents that could undermine the vote, while officers have been instructed to facilitate voters’ access to polling stations and treat the public with respect.

Police spokesperson Major Abdifatah Adan Hassan said exemptions will be made for emergency and essential services, with designated vehicles allowed to operate for medical and other critical needs during the restrictions.

The vote is widely seen as a milestone in Somalia’s political transition, marking the first time in more than 50 years that Mogadishu residents will directly elect their local leaders. Authorities say the security plan is aimed at ensuring the process proceeds peacefully and strengthens public confidence in democratic governance.