DHUSAMAREB — The National Independent Electoral Commission (NIEC) has officially delivered the first batch of previously registered voter cards to Dhusamareb, the administrative capital of Galmudug State, marking a crucial step in the preparation for upcoming direct local council elections.
Expanding the Democratic Franchise
Osman Gelle Jama, a senior official operating with the commission, stated that the newly arrived voter cards will be systematically distributed across several key districts within the state. The designated distribution zones include the districts of Dhusamareb, Guriel, Herale, Harardhere, Adado, and Galkayo, ensuring broad civic participation across the region.
This logistical deployment represents a significant milestone in Somalia’s overarching democratic transition. The electoral commission successfully held a historic direct election in the Banadir region at the end of 2025, serving as a successful pilot for the new voting framework.
A Nationwide Transition to Direct Elections
With the Banadir elections concluded, extensive federal and regional preparations are now actively underway to roll out local government elections across all federal member states.
The delivery of these voter cards to Galmudug aligns perfectly with Mogadishu’s broader, aggressive political mandate to implement a universal, ‘one-person, one-vote’ (1P1V) electoral system nationwide, a core directive that was recently underscored during the appointment of the new interim administration in Southwest State to ensure uniform democratic standards across the country.
