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Mogadishu, 16 October 2025 — Three of Somalia’s most influential political parties — Samadoon, Dhulka Hooyo, and Xaqsoor — have formally withdrawn from election dialogue with the Federal Government of Somalia, in what analysts describe as a significant setback for the country’s upcoming Benadir local council elections.
In a joint statement issued in Mogadishu, the parties — all registered under Somalia’s political framework and regarded among the 61 officially recognized political entities — announced their complete disengagement from the two-month-long talks with federal authorities. The dialogue was intended to resolve procedural and structural concerns related to voter registration and election transparency in the Benadir region.
The three parties accused the government of refusing to allow an independent technical audit of the voter registration system, saying the decision undermines public confidence in the integrity of the process. They described their withdrawal as a move “to protest the lack of transparency and unilateral control over key electoral mechanisms.”
“We cannot legitimize a process that excludes key political actors and denies transparency in voter registration,” the statement read.
“The integrity of this election has been compromised by unilateral decisions of the ruling authorities.”
The withdrawal comes at a delicate political moment. Several senior opposition figures — including former presidents and prime ministers — have also expressed doubts about the credibility of the upcoming vote, intensifying friction between the government and rival political blocs.
The development coincides with the Federal Election Committee’s decision to postpone the local council polls to 30 November 2025, citing technical and logistical preparations. The commission announced that nearly one million voters have so far registered to participate — a record turnout for the capital region.
Political observers warn that the withdrawal of Samadoon, Dhulka Hooyo, and Xaqsoor could erode public trust in the electoral process and further complicate efforts to achieve consensus on Somalia’s transition toward one-person-one-vote elections.
Analysts say restoring dialogue and rebuilding confidence between the government and political stakeholders will be essential to preserving Somalia’s fragile democratic progress and ensuring the upcoming elections serve as a genuine step toward national political stability.