Galmudug Vote Counting Underway as Electoral Commission Reports Delays in Remote Districts

DHUSAMAREB – The National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (NIEBC) has provided an update on the Galmudug State elections, confirming that voting has officially concluded across all polling stations and that the commission is now in the process of tallying and verifying results from approximately 300 polling stations across 11 districts.

NIEBC Chairman Abdikarim Ahmed Hassan held a press conference in Dhusamareb on Saturday evening, where he shared a progress report with the people of Galmudug, political parties, candidates, and all stakeholders regarding the status of the vote-counting and consolidation process. The chairman confirmed that voting had been successfully completed across all polling stations in the districts where elections took place, and that the official vote-counting process was underway in accordance with electoral laws and procedures.

Results Delayed in Remote Districts

Hassan stated that most results from polling stations have already reached the commission’s central hub in Dhusamareb, and the commission is currently in the process of consolidating and verifying the results. However, he noted that there have been delays in receiving results from some polling stations, particularly those located in remote areas. The commission is working to ensure that every vote is accurately counted and that the final results are credible.

A total of 369 candidates from 12 political organizations contested the 89 seats of the regional parliament, while 924 candidates from 16 political organizations competed for 243 seats across the 11 local councils. The NIEBC has confirmed that 215,860 individuals were enrolled and issued voting cards across the Galgaduud and Mudug regions.

A Call for Patience and Transparency

Hassan urged the people of Galmudug, political parties, and candidates to exercise patience as the commission carries out its responsibilities independently and in accordance with the law. He also called on all election stakeholders to rely only on official information released by the commission, warning against the dissemination of unofficial results that could undermine public confidence in the process.

The chairman’s call for patience comes amid heightened political tensions surrounding the Galmudug elections, with the federal government’s heavy-handed role in shaping the electoral outcome raising concerns about the independence of the process. Galmudug President Ahmed Abdi Kariye (Qoor-Qoor) withdrew from the presidential race following talks with federal officials, clearing the way for the federal government’s preferred candidate. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud designated Liban Ahmed Hassan as the sole candidate for the ruling Justice and Solidarity Party (JSP), bypassing internal party competition and raising concerns about the independence of the electoral process.

The Credibility Question

The delay in results from remote districts, while understandable given logistical challenges, also raises questions about the transparency and credibility of the process. In a region where many voters lack access to information, the commission’s call for patience is reasonable, but it also underscores the challenges of conducting elections in a country with weak infrastructure and limited institutional capacity.

The NIEBC has a responsibility to ensure that the final results reflect the will of the people. But the commission’s independence has been called into question by the federal government’s interference in the electoral process. The compressed timeline, the rejection of calls to delay the vote, and the federal government’s preferred candidate all suggest that the process was designed to produce a predetermined outcome. The commission’s assurance that it is counting every vote accurately is welcome, but it is not enough to dispel doubts about the integrity of the process.

Way Forward

The Galmudug elections represent a significant step toward democratic governance in Somalia, marking the first time that citizens have been able to directly elect their leaders. But the success of the process will ultimately depend on whether the results reflect the will of the people and whether the NIEBC can ensure transparency and accountability in the vote-counting process. The commission’s call for patience is reasonable, but it must be accompanied by a commitment to transparency and a willingness to address concerns about the integrity of the process. Without these safeguards, the historic moment risks being remembered not as a democratic milestone, but as another missed opportunity.