The National Independent Electoral Commission of Somalia (NIEC) has announced that nearly 5,000 election staff will be deployed to polling stations on 25 December to ensure the smooth conduct of the one-person, one-vote local council elections in Banadir Region.
The Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Abdikarim Ahmed Hassan, said the poll workers, most of whom are young people, have undergone extensive training on election management, staff responsibilities, voters’ rights, and electoral procedures. The training aims to ensure that the process is transparent, fair, and fully compliant with national laws.
“Banadir’s election holds special significance and could play a major role in shaping Somalia’s democratic direction,” Abdikarim said, describing election workers as the backbone of public trust in the voting process.
He urged all staff to uphold neutrality, fairness, and professional ethics, and to treat political parties and election observers equally. He added that their conduct on polling day will directly influence public perceptions of future elections.
The Federal Government remains committed to implementing direct elections based on universal suffrage, while opposition groups continue to question the feasibility and fairness of the process given the country’s security and political challenges.
Somalia is seeking to move beyond the clan-based indirect electoral system toward universal voting, following decades of conflict and instability.