BAIDOA: South West State is preparing to hold local council and representative elections on Sunday, May 10, across 13 districts in the Bay, Bakool, and Lower Shabelle regions. Polling preparations are underway as citizens prepare to cast their votes in an exercise widely seen as a crucial step for enhancing local governance, public participation, and political representation. The National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (NIEBC) has published the official list of polling stations for the elections, designating a wide range of schools, health centers, and public halls as voting venues across all districts of the regional state.
Voting centers have been confirmed in major towns including Baidoa, the state’s administrative capital, as well as Marka, Afgooye, Buurhakaba, Berdaale, Diinsoor, Xudur, Awdheegle, Baraawe, Ceelberde, Qansaxdheere, Waajid, and Wanlaweyn. The electoral body has been actively registering voters across the state in a concerted push to realize a universal suffrage system. The process marks a historic shift from indirect clan-based selection to direct public voting.
The upcoming polls are the culmination of weeks of intensified political and logistical coordination between Baidoa and Mogadishu. South West State Interim Leader, H.E. Jibril Abdiraashid Haji, met recently with NIEBC Chairman Abdikarim Ahmed Hassan to finalize electoral arrangements. They emphasized the need for a free, fair, and transparent process that would contribute to political stability and enhance public confidence. The interim leader stressed that conducting credible local elections is essential for restoring public trust in state institutions.
Sunday’s vote also serves as a major test for the region’s post-interim political trajectory. The NIEBC had previously postponed the candidate submission deadline to allow more time for parties to prepare, but confirmed that the May 10 polling date was firm and that the election would proceed as planned under a “one person, one vote” model. After federal forces entered Baidoa in late March, ousted former president Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed resigned, and Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre appointed his deputy as the interim leader to steer the state toward a legitimate electoral process.
Defence Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, who enrolled as a voter in Galkayo, described the registration drive as “historic,” noting that generations of Somalis have been unable to participate in a direct election for more than five decades. He and other federal leaders have consistently called for widespread participation, describing the process as foundational to the national transition away from indirect clan-based selection toward direct democracy.
In Baidoa and other district capitals, local authorities have deployed additional security personnel and introduced night-time curfews to ensure a safe voting environment. The NIEBC has also coordinated with community leaders and civil society organizations to monitor polling stations and help facilitate access for marginalized groups, including internally displaced persons. For the first time, comprehensive voter lists and transparent ballot-counting procedures have been introduced.
Residents across South West State have embraced the elections with optimism, viewing them as a pathway to development, improved representation, and a better collective future. Ahead of the vote, 70-year-old resident Abdi Mursal shared his hopes about the significance of the elections: “I am 70 years old, and these public elections have given me renewed hope and confidence in a brighter future.” Mursal’s words capture the broader sentiment of many, expressing confidence that the coming electoral exercise represents a turning point in the state’s post-conflict recovery.
These elections are anticipated to represent another significant achievement in Somalia’s ongoing efforts to broaden democratic participation and reinforce local institutions at the community level. The NIEBC has noted that the South West polls will be followed by elections in other federal member states: Galmudug and Hirshabelle are scheduled to vote on May 13, 2026. For the thousands of citizens turning out on Sunday, the act of casting a ballot is a step toward reclaiming a democratic right long denied by decades of civil war and political instability.
Recommended Reading on ftlsomalia.com:
- Electoral Commission Reveals Voting Locations for South West State Elections
- South West Interim Leader Meets Electoral Commission in Baidoa
- Electoral Commission Postpones Deadline, Announces South West State Polling Date
- NIEBC Launches National Voter Registration Across Remote Districts as Somalia Transitions to Universal Suffrage
- Defence Minister Fiqi Urges More Somalis to Register for Elections
