Electoral Commission Names 92 Southwest Lawmakers, Sets Presidential Vote for June 10

BAIDOA – The National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (NIEBC) has officially announced the list of members elected to the South West State House of Representatives, confirming that 92 lawmakers won seats in the May 10 polls held across 13 districts, while three seats remain to be filled at a later date.

According to the commission, 32 political associations participated in the race for the 95-seat regional parliament, with approximately 132,430 voters casting their ballots. The ruling Justice and Solidarity Party (JSP) secured 51 seats, followed by the NPU association with 14 seats, Karaama with 11 seats, SINCAD with 6 seats, and Tiir with 3 seats, while several smaller associations won single seats or none at all.

Supreme Court Approval and Presidential Election Date

The announcement came only hours after the Supreme Court of Somalia formally ratified the final results of the local council and legislative elections, granting full legal authority to the newly elected regional leadership. After a comprehensive review of the electoral documentation submitted by the NIEBC, the apex court determined that the submission satisfied all statutory requirements, confirming the legal and procedural soundness of the democratic contests across South West State’s administrative districts and constituencies.

The electoral commission also confirmed that the presidential election in South West State will take place on June 10, with federal parliament speaker Adan Mohamed Nur (Madobe) widely seen as the federal government’s preferred candidate, having arrived in Baidoa in late April to rally support. His main rivals include Minister of Ports Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur and Minister of Livestock Hassan Elay, alongside independent figures.

Women’s Representation Falls Short of 30% Quota

However, a closer look at the published list has revealed a significant shortfall in the implementation of the agreed 30 percent women’s quota. According to the NIEBC, only 16 of the 92 elected lawmakers are women, meaning women currently make up approximately 17 percent of the parliament – far below the 30 percent quota established in Somalia’s political framework. To fully meet the quota, women were expected to secure at least 28 seats; the current figures therefore show a deficit of 12 seats.

A mandatory 30 percent women’s quota has been integrated into both the Electoral Law and the Political Parties Law – a historic structural move toward ensuring inclusive, nationwide political engagement. The development has sparked immediate concern among civil society groups and advocates for women’s political participation, who argue that the continued failure to implement the quota undermines efforts toward inclusive governance and equal political representation in Somalia.

Political Tensions and Allegations of Manipulation

The elections came at a sensitive time amid heavy political tension regarding the federal government’s management of the transitional period, a process currently opposed by the Somali Future Council, Jubaland, and Puntland. Even before the results were officially released, top presidential contenders in South West State had issued strong cautions against possible electoral manipulation.

Candidate Ilyaas Ali Nuur directly challenged his rival, Adan Madobe, asserting that a victory for Madobe under present circumstances would be considered a “theft” of the electoral process. “Should the South West election results not align with our expectations, we will withdraw and disassociate ourselves from the outcome,” Nuur stated. Similar concerns were raised by veteran politician Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden. “We cannot accept the outcomes or any vote tampering,” he told reporters. “Nevertheless, if the election results are confirmed as authentic, we will collaborate with the elected individual.”

Security was significantly tightened in Baidoa, with police, intelligence agents, and special forces deployed to maintain stability. The federal government had previously rejected the re-election of Abdiasis Laftagareen in March, describing it as an “illegal pseudo-election”. It remains unclear whether all the political associations that participated in the South West elections will accept the results.