Somalia Electoral Commission Reviews Lessons from Recent Local Elections

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Somalia’s electoral commission has opened a three-day conference to assess recent local elections and identify lessons to improve the organisation of future polls as the country continues its transition towards direct voting.

The conference, opened on Monday by National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (NIEBC) Chairman Abdikarim Ahmed Hassan, brings together commission officials and representatives involved in conducting elections in the Banadir region and the federal states of South West, Galmudug and Hirshabelle.

Discussions on the opening day focused on reviewing electoral procedures, sharing experiences from the different voting exercises and identifying challenges encountered during their implementation.

Participants are also examining ways to strengthen electoral administration and improve coordination among institutions responsible for organising future elections.

The federal government of Somalia is seeking to expand direct public participation in choosing political representatives after decades in which national leadership was selected through an indirect, clan-based electoral system.

The recent elections, marked a significant step in that transition, alongside local council and state assembly elections conducted in several federal member states.

The three-day conference is expected to provide an opportunity for election officials to assess the processes and use the lessons gathered to inform preparations for upcoming electoral exercises.