Somalia, 21 October 2025 — Three Somali opposition parties — Samadoon, Dhulka Hooyo, and Xaqsoor — have rejected summons from the National Electoral Commission, accusing it of acting on behalf of the pro-government Justice and Stability Party (JSP), led by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
In a letter signed by Chairperson Abdikarim Ahmed Hassan, the Commission had called on the parties to present “all relevant documents and evidence” to ensure transparency in the electoral process.
In a joint press statement issued Monday night, the opposition said the Commission’s October 19 announcement “clearly confirms the long-held suspicion that this disputed body functions as a branch of the ruling JSP.”
They stressed that their two-month dialogue had been solely with a ministerial committee appointed by the government, not the Commission.
“At no time has there been an official dialogue between our three parties and the ‘Election Commission,’” the statement read.
The parties reiterated that reforming the Commission had been among their key demands, saying it “was created by the ruling party and therefore cannot be an impartial body capable of conducting a free and fair election.”
“Our parties will not appear before a commission we believe was established by a single political entity,” they said.
Reaffirming their commitment to democratic principles, the statement concluded:
“We stand for an election that is free, fair, and inclusive — one that belongs to all political stakeholders, conducted under agreed laws and timelines, and not controlled by any single party.”
The three opposition parties had earlier announced their withdrawal from an election agreement with the government, citing lack of transparency in voter registration across Mogadishu’s districts. They accused the government of rejecting independent oversight of the process and said ongoing talks had become one-sided path serving the interests of an affiliated party in the government.