By Shire Abdi - Reporter
Somalia, 12 June 2026 – Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has attributed delays in the country’s electoral process to technical and operational challenges, rejecting claims of political interference.
Speaking on Miizaan Podcast, of Dawan Media, the president acknowledged that several elections had been postponed but argued that the delays reflected Somalia’s limited experience in conducting one-person, one-vote elections.
He noted that the country has not held nationwide direct elections for decades and said electoral institutions are still building the expertise required to manage such a complex process.
According to Hassan Sheikh, election officials initially developed timelines and budgets based on projections that later proved insufficient once implementation began.
He said operational realities, security considerations and resource constraints had forced electoral authorities to adjust their schedules.
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The president praised members of the electoral commission, describing them as committed officials working under difficult conditions across different parts of the country.
Hassan Sheikh also rejected accusations that he personally controls electoral decisions, arguing that the commission operates under a legal framework approved by Somalia’s federal institutions.
He maintained that election postponements should be viewed as technical setbacks rather than political manoeuvres, adding that the government remains committed to completing the electoral process and expanding democratic participation across the country.