By Asha Elmi - Reporter
Somalia, 24 December 2025 The National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (NIEBC) has confirmed the completion of preparations for the Banadir local council elections, following the conclusion of political party campaigns and the rollout of heightened security measures across the capital.
The commission announced that voter registration and biometric verification have been finalized in the Banadir region, which comprises 16 districts and 523 polling stations.
A total of 923,220 voters were registered, achieving full coverage of the target. Of these, 918,890 voters representing 99.53 percent successfully completed biometric verification and are eligible to cast their ballot. At least 503,916 voters representing 55 percent have already confirmed their readiness to participate in the upcoming elections.
The commission described the whole voter registration process as a key milestone in preparations for the Banadir elections.
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Voting is scheduled to begin on Thursday morning and will run for one day. Authorities have not yet announced a date for the release of official results. Political parties wrapped up their campaigns on Tuesday, while Wednesday has been designated as an election silence day in line with electoral regulations.
Security has been significantly tightened across Mogadishu ahead of the vote. More than 10,000 police officers and other security personnel have been deployed throughout the city during the polling period. Officials have also imposed restrictions on vehicle movement on election day to ensure public safety.
As part of the security arrangements, flights to and from Mogadishu’s international airport will be suspended for one day on Thursday.
Authorities say the measures are intended to facilitate a smooth and secure electoral process in the capital.
