Somalia’s Independent National Electoral Commission Appeals to International Community for Support in Upcoming Elections
Somalia’s Independent Electoral Commission has requested international support to fund and monitor the country’s historic one-person, one-vote elections, marking the first nationwide vote in over 60 years.
The Independent National Electoral and Boundaries Commission (INEBC) of Somalia has formally requested the international community to support stakeholders in expediting all phases of the country’s electoral process.
The Commission emphasized the urgent need for a formal financial budget to implement all stages of the elections across the nation. Officials highlighted that adequate funding is critical to ensuring a one-person, one-vote electoral system in Somalia, marking a historic milestone in the country’s democratic journey.
In addition, the INEBC called on the Federal Government, federal member states, political stakeholders, and international partners to provide substantial financial support to prevent delays caused by resource shortages. The Commission stressed that international participation in both funding and monitoring is essential to guarantee transparency, accountability, and integrity in the electoral process.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, whose current term is nearing its end, has pledged to oversee Somalia’s first nationwide, one-person, one-vote elections in over six decades. While Puntland, a federal member state, has previously conducted similar regional elections, the upcoming vote would mark the first fully coordinated, nationwide democratic process in Somalia since independence.
The Commission reiterated that international collaboration will be crucial in achieving a credible and timely electoral process, ensuring Somalia remains on a path toward strengthened democracy and political stability.