Mugadishu, Somaalia – Hundreds of citizens gathered at voter registration centers in the Shangaani district, where Somalia officially launched the registration process for the long-anticipated one-person, one-vote elections.
Men and women, young and elderly alike, stood in long queues for hours, eagerly waiting to receive their voter cards — a crucial step toward exercising their democratic right in a free and fair election.
One of the registrants, Hussein Macalin, finally obtained his voter card after several hours in line. "I hope this card becomes a tool through which I can express my voice and help change the future for the people I am part of," he said.
The voter registration process is scheduled to last for 30 days. According to the National Independent Electoral Commission, the only requirement for registration is Somali citizenship, with no additional conditions imposed on applicants.
Officials from the Federal Government of Somalia also took part in the registration process and received their voter cards on-site. The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission stated that every official is expected to register in the district they reside in, standing in line just like any other citizen.
The voter registration drive coincides with the final days of political party registration, which is set to conclude on April 20. So far, only five political parties have officially registered.
The government sees This process widely viewed as a significant step toward strengthening democracy in Somalia and a signal of the political transformation underway in the country.
