By Abdullahi Salad - Reporter
Somalia, 13 December 2025 — The Chairperson of the National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (NIEBC), Abdikariin Ahmed Hassan, said on Friday that the process for electing the Governor of Banaadir Region remains unresolved, as there is still no clear legal framework defining who holds the authority to elect the position.
Speaking to state media in response to growing public questions regarding the progress of the December 25 elections, the Chairperson confirmed that preparations for district council elections do not include the seat of the Banaadir Governor or the Capital City Council seats, since the matter is still awaiting legal guidance.
He noted that a previous political agreement between the Federal Government and parts of the opposition stipulated that the Governor would be elected by the 97-member Capital City Council.
However, he pointed out that the existing law governing the Commission clearly states that the Governor must be directly elected by the public, creating a legal contradiction that can only be resolved through amendments passed by Parliament.
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“The political agreement states that if the Council of Ministers and the House of the People approve the amendments, then the Governor will be elected by the Capital City Council. But under the law currently in force, the Governor must be directly elected by the public,” the NIEBC Chairperson said, stressing that the Commission is awaiting formal legal direction.
The Chairperson added that the election of the Capital City Council would also be postponed, noting that the procedures, voting system, and criteria for selecting council members are not yet ready.
This legal uncertainty surrounding the election of the Banaadir Governor comes at a time when debates are intensifying over the governance of the capital and who, under the law, holds the authority to lead the region.
The Commission stated that it will only take action once it receives official legal amendments from the Council of Ministers and the Federal Parliament.
