Saturday May 2, 2026
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia’s National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has opposed a decision by Mogadishu Mayor Hassan Mohamed Hussein Muungaab to dismiss district commissioners in parts of the capital, calling the move unlawful.
In a statement, the commission said the local councils of Banadir Region were legally elected during the December 25, 2025 elections and officially assumed office on April 2, 2026, following their swearing-in.
“Any administrative action that contradicts the Constitution and the Electoral Law is illegal and cannot alter the system for establishing district administrations in Banadir Region,” the commission said.
The dispute follows the reported removal of commissioners in Deyniile, Shangaani, and Gubadley districts by the mayor.
The development comes after Somalia took a major step toward universal suffrage, with 390 members of the newly elected Banadir Regional Council sworn in earlier this year. The council members, elected across Mogadishu’s 16 districts, represent 20 political parties and mark a significant shift from the country’s longstanding clan-based electoral system.
The commission’s statement underscores growing tensions over the implementation of new electoral frameworks and the balance of authority in local governance during Somalia’s political transition.
