Sunday May 3, 2026
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia’s Independent National Electoral and Boundaries Commission on Sunday released the full schedule for the country’s 2026 regional elections, with voting set to begin in South West State later this month.
According to the timetable, South West State will be the first to go to the polls. Local council and parliamentary elections are scheduled for May 10, followed by the election of the state parliament speaker on May 18. The regional president is set to be elected on May 23, 2026.
In the Banadir region, elections for the Mogadishu city council are planned for July 30, with the mayor and deputy mayors to be elected on August 5.
The schedule also indicates that local council elections in the northeastern regions and the Gedo region of Jubbaland will be held on July 30.
The electoral commission said detailed regulations, procedures, and technical guidelines will be issued in the coming days to govern all stages of the process. It also pledged to conduct public awareness campaigns, stakeholder engagement, and training to support the elections.
The commission emphasized the importance of transparency, accountability, impartiality, and adherence to electoral standards to build public confidence in the process.
The commission called on political parties, candidates, government institutions, regional administrations, and the Somali public to comply fully with the announced schedule and procedures to ensure free, fair, and credible elections.
