Somalia Registers 923,000 Voters in Mogadishu

Somalia, 19 October 2025 — Somalia’s National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (NIEBC) has released the provisional voter list for the Banadir region, confirming that 923,220 voters were registered across Mogadishu’s 16 districts.

The figures were presented during a ceremony in Mogadishu, where the Commission reported that 99.53 per cent of registrations were valid, while 0.47 per cent —about 4,330 records—were flagged as duplicates or inaccurate. The registration process was conducted over five months through 56 centers across the capital.

NIEBC Chairperson Abdikarim Ahmed Hassan described the milestone as historic, noting it was the first large-scale voter registration in Mogadishu in more than five decades.

“A total of 923,220 citizens have registered. This is a historic moment for our nation,” he said. “Credit goes to the Federal Government for funding, ensuring security, and coordinating closely with the Banadir Regional Administration.”

Banadir Governor Hassan Mohamed Hussein (Mungab) praised the registration outcome, saying it reflects public trust and civic responsibility.

“For Mogadishu to register nearly one million people is not unexpected; it is the capital,” he said. “Despite challenges, participation was strong, and the number could have been even higher under better conditions.”

Somalia’s Minister of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation, Ali Yusuf Ali Hosh, commended the NIEBC and Banadir authorities for their coordination and reaffirmed that the government will remain neutral throughout the process.

“No one can deny the nearly one million who registered in Mogadishu,” he said. “The direction they’re heading is the direction the nation is taking. Whoever joins, joins willingly; whoever stands in the way does so at their own risk. This train has already left the station. Everyone has their role to play, and as a government, we will not interfere.”

However, the release of the list comes amid political tensions, as several political parties have previously criticized the Commission’s process, accusing it of lack of transparency in the registration exercise.