Somalia’s Federal Government has announced plans to hold direct federal elections in 2027, with voters expected to elect members of parliament and the president under a one-person, one-vote system.
The announcement was made during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, where ministers emphasised the need to accelerate preparations for the elections and move away from the indirect electoral system that has been used in previous election cycles.
Prime Minister Hamza said the country’s Constitution had entered into force, adding that the government would work to fulfil the obligations it places on the various state institutions.
He also announced that a special committee would work over the next two months on separating the legislative and executive branches of government. The process is expected to address the situation of government ministers who also hold seats in parliament.
The Federal Government has already conducted one-person, one-vote elections in parts of the country, including Benadir, South West State, Galmudug and Hirshabelle. It has maintained that the direct electoral system should eventually be implemented nationwide.
However, the proposed electoral process faces opposition from some political figures, who argue that there has not been sufficient consensus among stakeholders and claim that the distribution of seats favours the government.
The planned 2027 elections are expected to be a significant test of Somalia’s efforts to transition towards a direct voting system at the federal level. Questions surrounding political consensus, electoral arrangements and implementation remain central to the debate over the country’s electoral future.
Mustaqbal
