By Abdullahi Salad - Reporter
Somalia, 25 December 2025 - This morning, the one-person, one-vote elections began in Banadir Region, where voters are expected to elect members for the local councils of Mogadishu's 16 districts.
According to the election committee, more than 500,000 people who have received voter cards are participating, with many already heading to their respective polling stations early this morning to cast their votes.
In this election, only local councillors who will represent the 16 districts will be elected, totaling 390 members. Voters will cast their votes for various candidates nominated by the 20 political parties that met the electoral requirements to participate in the polls.
The parties will be allocated seats based on the number of votes they receive. The councilors will then elect the mayor and deputy mayor of the district from within their own ranks.
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The outcome of the mayoral election is likely to be predictable, as the party with the most votes or the largest number of councilors is expected to win the mayoral position.
The government sees this election as a step toward political success in Somalia, while the opposition views it as premeditated, with the ruling Justice and Solidarity party expected to win majority of the seats.
Movement within the capital has been restricted, and only those with voter cards are allowed to move around the city.
Security agencies have announced that they have put in place a comprehensive security measures to ensure the election takes place peacefully and citizens express their democratic rights.
