By Abdullahi Salad - Reporter
Somalia; 3 May 2026 – Somalia's electoral commission scheduled Gedo local council elections for July 30 amid a long-standing dispute between the government and Jubaland over the region.
Under the new schedule announced Sunday, council and assembly elections for South West will begin on May 10. The election of the assembly leadership will take place on May 18, while the presidential election has been set for May 23, 2026.
The commission also said elections in Hirshabelle and Galmudug will follow the same timetable. The two federal member states will elect their local councils and assembly representatives on June 20, followed by parliamentary leadership election on July 2. The presidential elections are scheduled for July 9.
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The timetable also states that the Banadir Regional Council election will be held on July 30, 2026, while the election of the Mayor of Mogadishu and deputy mayors will take place on August 5. The local council elections for the North East State will be held on July 30.
The commission said it will issue detailed regulations, procedures and technical guidelines outlining all stages of the elections and their implementation.
The inclusion of Gedo Region in the election timetable comes as the region has long been one of the areas affected by political and administrative disputes that have shaped the governance process in Jubbaland.