Somalia, 14 September 2025 — Somalia’s National Independent Electoral Commission (NIEC) has announced the reopening of public voter registration centers in seven districts in the Banadir region to expand participation ahead of the forthcoming electoral processes.
A statement from the Commission’s Information Office said registration centers have resumed operations in Warta Nabadda, Howlwadaag, Hodan, Wadajir, Dharkeynley, Waabari and Kaaran districts.
The initiative targets citizens who have not yet registered, including first-time voters and members of newly certified political organizations.
“Voter registration is both a constitutional right and a national duty. We urge all citizens, particularly young and first-time voters to take advantage of this opportunity to secure their participation in Somalia's democratic process,” the NIEC said.
The Commission noted that the registration drive will continue until 30 September 2025. It also called on political groups and community leaders to encourage their supporters to register and help build a comprehensive voter roll in the region.
The Banadir region, home to Mogadishu and Somalia’s most populous urban areas, has often been a focal point for voter registration initiatives and political mobilization. Reopening the centers there marks an important step toward broadening access and strengthening public confidence in Somalia’s electoral system, which is undergoing gradual reforms after decades of conflict and instability.
Sources from the Electoral Commission told Dawan Africa that similar registration efforts are expected to extend to other regions in the coming weeks as part of a nationwide push to standardize voter rolls and strengthen the legitimacy of future elections.