Somalia, 14 October 2025 — The National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has once again postponed the highly anticipated Benadir Regional Council elections by a month following delays in the submission of official party symbols by some registered political parties.
The delay in the elections, which were scheduled for October 30, is likely to cause anxiety in the region, especially following previous postponements. Benadir region, which includes the capital, Mogadishu, and its 17 districts, is the most populated administrative region in Somalia.
The announcement was made by the Chairman of the National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (NIEBC), Abdikariin Ahmed Hassan. He noted that many registered political parties have yet to submit their official symbols.
Chairman Abdikariin revealed that nearly one million voters have already registered in the Benadir region, signaling strong public interest in the upcoming local elections.
During a consultative forum in Mogadishu, the chairman urged all the 61 registered political parties to submit their official symbols before the election. He emphasized that most parties had not met the legal obligation.
“One of the key obligations for political associations is to present their official symbols. We are giving you before the election to finalize and submit them. Many of you have not yet provided your symbols,” said Abdikariin..
He added that it is essential for each party to be identified by its official symbol, describing it as a legal duty. “Even those who do not yet have a symbol can be assisted by the Commission; we can help design one for them,” he added.