Somalia’s Electoral Reform Takes Shape as Voter Registration Begins in HirShabelle Federal Member State Capital.

The voter registration process for Somalia’s upcoming one-person, one-vote elections officially commenced today in Jowhar, the capital of HirShabelle State. Residents queued early on Sunday morning to receive their voter ID cards, marking the start of the much-anticipated democratic process.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (NIEC) and the Boundaries Commission are in Jowhar to coordinate and supervise the exercise. Earlier this week, a delegation led by NIEC Commissioner Abdi Addow arrived in the city to oversee preparations, including training registration officers and deploying technical equipment and staff such as commissioners, trainers, and GIS specialists.

The exercise aims to register eligible voters across Hirshabelle State in preparation for Somalia’s first universal suffrage elections in decades — a significant milestone in the country’s state-building process.

On Wednesday, NIEC officials held a key coordination meeting with Jowhar District Commissioner and Mayor Cusmaan Maxamud Mukhtar (Baareey), and HirShabelle’s Minister of Education Saciid Camalow. They were joined by the ministry’s Director General and the Jowhar municipal secretary.

Discussions focused on expediting preparations for voter registration and ensuring logistical and institutional support at the district and state levels.

“We are committed to ensuring that the voter registration process is smooth, transparent, and inclusive,” a NIEC official stated.

HirShabelle Federal Member State becomes the latest federal member state to begin the voter registration drive, following in the footsteps of other regions as Somalia steadily advances toward direct elections under a unified electoral framework.

The launch of this exercise is part of a broader effort by Somali authorities and international partners to implement electoral reforms and rebuild trust in democratic institutions.

Mustaqbal