Voter Registration Expands in Mogadishu as Somalia Prepares for Landmark Elections

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Somalia expanded its voter registration drive to three more districts in Mogadishu, as residents embraced the chance to participate in the country’s first one-person, one-vote elections in over half a century.

Hundreds of citizens lined up at registration centers in Xamarweyne, Shibis, and Boondheere districts, marking a major step forward in Somalia’s effort to build a democratic system after decades of conflict and political turmoil.

The voter registration process first launched earlier this week in Mogadishu’s Shangaani district and is now gradually widening across the Banadir region.

“This is a historic moment for us,” said one resident waiting to register. “It is the first time in my life that I will be able to vote.”

Officials hailed the growing turnout as a sign of rising public confidence in Somalia’s political institutions, as the nation seeks to hold direct elections after years of indirect voting systems dominated by clan leaders.

The expansion of voter registration is seen as a critical milestone in Somalia’s broader efforts to strengthen governance, foster stability, and rebuild trust between citizens and the state.