Parties Submit Candidate Lists as Banadir Readies for First Direct Council Vote

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Somalia’s electoral body has received candidate lists from several political organizations vying for seats in the upcoming Banadir regional council elections, marking a key step toward the capital’s first “one person, one vote” poll in decades.

The National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (NIEBC) said political groups including Ramaas, Karaama, Somali Unity Saab, and Justice and Unity (Cadaaladda iyo Wadajirka) formally submitted their rosters in Mogadishu.

The handover is part of the commission’s push to keep preparations on schedule for the landmark vote, which will determine leadership across Mogadishu’s districts.

NIEBC chairman Abdikarim Ahmed Hassan welcomed the submissions but urged remaining political associations to file their documents before the December 10 deadline. He warned that late submissions could disrupt ballot printing and other logistical arrangements.

Somalia is working to expand direct voting across the country after years of indirect, clan-based electoral processes. The Banadir council vote is seen as a major test of both political will and administrative readiness.