By Mohamed Abdi - Reporter
Somalia, 28 April 2026 President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud vowed no retreat from direct elections, saying Somalis will choose their leaders under one-person, one-vote.
The president made the remarks during a state dinner he hosted at the presidential palace in Mogadishu in honor of Somali clan elders who traveled from across the country to attend the inauguration of a Murusade clan leader.
He praised the positive and pivotal role played by the elders in promoting peace, national reconciliation, and unity, while highlighting the progress made by the state in security, democratic transition, and the expansion of decentralized governance.
The president noted that denying the Somali people their constitutional rights for 57 years, and relying on incomplete electoral processes, had only deepened crises, particularly insecurity.
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He said: “We are committed to ensuring that the Somali people obtain their constitutional right to elect the leader of their choice for the first time in 57 years. The incomplete elections previously held in the country have only left us with crises, foremost among them insecurity.”
For their part, clan elders expressed their appreciation for the gesture, commending the government’s achievements in the fight against terrorism, the development of economic infrastructure, and the advancement of the democratic process in the country.
They also urged the president to engage in serious dialogue with the opposition and to avoid any confrontations that could escalate into violence, expressing their desire to reach an understanding on the disputed issues between the government and the opposition.