The optimal method for Somalia to conduct a one-man, one-vote election

By Mohamed Deeq Ali Abdi
Saturday July 11, 2026

After President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia rejected the conclusion of his term on May 15, the opposition declared that they no longer acknowledged his legitimacy and cautioned that Somalia had entered a perilous phase. Mohamud maintained that the constitutional amendments sanctioned by Parliament had lengthened his term from four to five years.

The African Union, Intergovernmental Authority on Development, European union and United Nations have called for the resumption of transition talks that were halted which were mediated by the United States and Britain.

Though elections should have taken place prior to the end of Mohamud’s term, preparations were postponed because of political disputes among the elite, persistent insecurity, and financial constraints. These elections would have marked the fourth since the establishment of Somalia’s Federal Government in 2012, although the country’s leader selection process is not democratic.

Somalia has faced challenges for twenty years in moving from a clan-based indirect electoral system to a system of nationwide direct elections with universal suffrage. In 2017 and 2022, attempts to dismantle or circumvent the system failed because political leaders could not agree on the transition process, which postponed the government change. This increased the likelihood of violent conflict between the federal government and the opposition, and it obstructed advancements in service delivery, counter-terrorism efforts, and governance.

As part of its efforts to democratize, Somalia has been planning to hold direct elections for a long time. However, the federal government is attempting to move too quickly from clan-based power-sharing to full democratic elections without reconciling these conflicting political systems. A gradual transition that guarantees inclusion through representation and stability is necessary for the country.

My recommendation is the federal government, and the opposition can be satisfied if they utilize this adapted process. If the Somali government and the opposition take these steps, it can be possible. Somalia can have one man one vote election in the country.

1. The election committee should be expanded, with nominations from both the opposition and the federal state for individuals to join the committee.
2. The federal government, along with the opposition, will nominate people who will make decisions in cases of corruption or lack of transparency.
3. The federal government and the opposition will finalize the number of members of parliament coming to Mogadishu and the division of these members.
4. To ensure trust among everyone, the federal government, the opposition, and the federal state will nominate individuals responsible for ensuring security during elections in designated areas.
5. The federal government and the opposition do not involve the election committee, and their work should be free from any intervention.

If the government and the opposition agree on these reasonable steps, Somalia can achieve a one man, one vote system that is common to all stakeholders and move forward.

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Mohamed Deeq Ali Abdi: Undertake research in Horn Africa as a Senior Research Associate at the Institute for National and International Security (IN). Security, peacekeeping, and the understanding of how the geopolitics of Horn Africa might alter, as well as the factors that contribute to the region’s relative lack of insecurity