Over 420,000 Voters Cast Ballots in Galmudug and Hirshabelle as Counting Begins

MOGADISHU — Somalia’s National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (NIEBC) has begun counting votes in Galmudug and Hirshabelle after polling stations closed on Tuesday evening, following simultaneous elections for local councils and state parliaments in both federal member states.

The elections, held across 281 polling locations in 21 districts, drew more than 420,000 voters in total, according to figures released by the Commission.

Galmudug: 267,420 Voters, 12 Parties

In Galmudug, polling took place across 178 locations in 11 districts, with 267,420 registered voters casting ballots for candidates from 12 political organisations. The election was a repeat of the July 30 vote that the Supreme Court annulled in August 2026, citing irregularities that violated constitutional requirements for free, fair and impartial elections.

As reported in FTL Somalia’s coverage of the Supreme Court ruling, the rerun was ordered after the Towfiiq Party successfully challenged the previous result. However, Towfiiq was excluded from the list of 12 organisations authorised to participate in the rerun, a decision the party has opposed.

The Justice and Solidarity Party (JSP) nominated Libaan Ahmed Hassan as its candidate for the Galmudug presidency, with the Qiimo Qaran party endorsing his candidacy, as detailed in FTL Somalia’s coverage of the endorsement.

Hirshabelle: 152,763 Voters, 14 Parties

In Hirshabelle, polling took place across 103 locations in 10 districts, with 152,763 voters casting ballots for candidates from 14 political organisations.

The Hirshabelle election proceeded despite significant political opposition in the Hiiraan region. Hawadle clan leaders and politicians had repeatedly demanded that the process be suspended until a political agreement was reached. As reported in FTL Somalia’s coverage of the electoral dispute, the JSP nominated incumbent President Ali Abdullahi Hussein Guudlawe for a second term, intensifying opposition from Hawadle leaders who argued the presidency should return to their community.

Armed Macawiisley fighters seized voter registration centres in Beledweyne early September, as detailed in FTL Somalia’s coverage of the militia challenge. Traditional elders also barred Hirshabelle administration officials from landing at airports in Hiiraan until a political deal was reached.

Guudlawe cast his vote in Jowhar, the administrative capital, and called on voters to cast their ballots for whoever they believed best served their interests. He described the day as historic for Hirshabelle and for Somalia.

Polling and Security

NIEBC Deputy Chairperson Saadiq Abshir Garaad said polling stations closed at 6:00pm on Tuesday, with officials continuing to serve voters who were still in queues at that time. He said no security incidents or disruptions to the electoral process were reported across all polling locations.

He thanked the security forces and all parties involved in the election operations and said vote counting would begin immediately.

Critical Note

The elections in Galmudug and Hirshabelle represent a significant logistical undertaking for the NIEBC, which managed two complex processes across 281 polling locations on the same day. The turnout figures, particularly Galmudug’s 267,420 voters, suggest that the Commission was able to mobilise participation at a scale that exceeds previous electoral exercises in these states.

The participation alone does not confer legitimacy. In both states, the electoral process has been contested by significant political constituencies. In Galmudug, the party that successfully challenged the previous election in court was excluded from the rerun. In Hirshabelle, a major community rejected the process as illegitimate, and armed fighters disrupted preparations. Elections held without broad consensus risk producing outcomes that are legally valid but politically contested.

The NIEBC’s decision to proceed despite these objections reflects a determination to complete the electoral calendar. But the Commission’s credibility, and the durability of the outcomes in both states, will depend on whether the results are accepted by those who participated and by those who did not. The counting process now under way will determine not just who wins, but whether the elections resolve or deepen the political disputes that have shaped both Galmudug and Hirshabelle for years.