Wednesday February 11, 2026
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia’s National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission on Wednesday announced that state-level elections will be held in April 2026, setting a timetable that places the vote one month before the end of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s current term.
In a statement, Commission Chairman Abdikarim Ahmed Hassan said preparations for the elections are already underway and pledged that the process will be conducted in a free, fair and credible manner.
The commission also announced that voter registration will resume in the towns of Baidoa, Jowhar and Dhusamareb to allow additional residents to enroll ahead of the polls.
“Following consultations with regional leaders, they requested the expansion of districts where voter registration will take place,” Hassan said. “We will add 12 new districts, bringing the total to 35 districts across various regions.”
The commission said it will work closely with registered political parties and civil society organizations to ensure transparency and compliance with electoral laws, while safeguarding voters’ rights.
The announcement comes as the federal government and the Somali Future Council which includes representatives from Puntland and Jubbaland are currently engaging in discussions over the electoral framework and controversial amendments to the Provisional Constitution.
The planned vote is scheduled just weeks before President Hassan Sheikh’s term expires, intensifying scrutiny over whether political stakeholders can reach a consensus on the electoral model.
Opposition groups have called for a negotiated agreement on the electoral process and have questioned recent constitutional amendments passed by parliament. The federal government has maintained that it is moving toward a multiparty electoral system under a revised constitutional framework.
It remains unclear whether ongoing talks will produce a new political agreement or whether the election will proceed under the current arrangements, a question that could shape Somalia’s next phase of governance and stability.
