Somalia’s Electoral Process Advances as Vote Counting Continues in Southwest State

Somalia’s Electoral Process Advances as Vote Counting Continues in Southwest State

The National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has provided an important update regarding the ongoing vote-counting process following the “one person, one vote” elections held in Southwest State. The elections, which took place across 13 constituencies, were conducted for members of local councils and the Southwest State House of Representatives.

According to the chairman of the commission, Abdulkarim Ahmed Hassan, the process of counting, transporting, and verifying election results is progressing smoothly and in accordance with Somalia’s national electoral laws. His statement reflects growing confidence in the country’s efforts to strengthen democratic institutions and ensure transparent electoral procedures.

The chairman emphasized that all official vote-counting activities at polling centers have now been completed. He explained that the commission followed Article 61 of the national electoral law, which governs the counting and handling of ballots after voting concludes. This marks a significant step toward finalizing the election process.

Abdulkarim Ahmed Hassan also confirmed that all procedures related to the closure of polling stations and the completion of vote counting were carried out under Article 21 of the electoral law. The commission stated that election workers and officials fulfilled their responsibilities in line with legal requirements to maintain fairness and accuracy.

Furthermore, the commission announced that results from all polling centers have already been submitted for review. The electoral body is currently carrying out its legal mandate to verify the submitted figures and ensure that the final outcomes accurately represent the will of the voters across Southwest State.

The latest update comes as Somalia continues to pursue broader democratic reforms and expand direct elections across the country. Observers view the successful management of the process in Southwest State as an encouraging sign for the future of democratic governance and electoral transparency in Somalia.

 

Somalia’s democratic journey continues as vote counting progresses smoothly in Southwest State following the historic one-person, one-vote elections. Transparency and accountability remain key to building public trust. 🇸🇴🗳️https://t.co/onztMQIKXF pic.twitter.com/J5d6ojcDXA

— Hussein Elmi (@huss_elmi) May 14, 2026