Prime Minister Barre visits voter registration site in Mogadishu’s Shangani district
Source: Hiiraan Online, Wednesday April 16, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, accompanied by Mogadishu Mayor Yusuf Hussein Jimale and several cabinet members, visited a voter registration site in the capital’s Shangani district on Wednesday to observe the rollout of the country’s landmark voter registration process.
Addressing the crowd, Prime Minister Barre hailed the moment as a “victory for Somalia,” highlighting it as a turning point in the country’s journey toward democratic governance.
“Today marks an important milestone. For the first time in decades, our people can exercise their democratic right—to elect and be elected,” Barre said. “This is the beginning of an era where leadership is earned through accountability, not appointed by clan formula or political favoritism.”
The Prime Minister stressed the significance of the universal voter registration initiative, which began on Tuesday in Mogadishu—the first such effort in more than 50 years—as Somalia prepares for one-person, one-vote elections in 2026. The country last held direct elections in 1969, just before the military coup led by Siad Barre.
“Every Somali has the right to a national ID, to register, and to vote,” Barre said. “Those seeking office must now present their ideas, track records, and commitments directly to the people.”
Barre applauded the residents of Shangani for being at the forefront of a historic transition and praised the resilience of Mogadishu’s population in the face of terrorism, insecurity, and hardship.
“The skeptics said it couldn’t be done—that Somalia could not hold credible elections. But the turnout today proves them wrong,” he added. “Our offensive against extremism is gaining ground, and our path toward economic progress is clearer than ever.”
The Prime Minister also framed the electoral process as a critical instrument for rebuilding public trust in government institutions. “From today, the people will decide who deserves to lead, and who must be held accountable,” he said.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has pledged to replace the 4.5 clan-based indirect electoral model—long criticized for entrenching patronage and political stagnation—with direct suffrage. The process is being rolled out in phases, starting with voter registration in nine districts across Mogadishu.