Somalia names election dates, but rivals reject the extra year
MOGADISHU — Somalia has scheduled parliamentary and presidential elections for April and May 2027 under constitutional changes extending political terms from four years to five, drawing opposition objections that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s original mandate expired this year.
The National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission announced on Thursday that elections for both houses of parliament would take place on 15 April, followed by the presidential election on 15 May. Commission chairperson Abdikarim Ahmed Hassan also outlined the dates on the state broadcaster.
The timetable gives electoral officials a programme to work towards, but it leaves unresolved a dispute over the rules governing the vote and the president’s continued tenure. Mohamud returned to office in 2022, with his original four-year term due to end in May 2026. His administration relies on constitutional amendments to justify remaining in office until next year, while opponents reject that extension.
The government presents its electoral reforms as a move towards direct voting, replacing an indirect system built around clan representation. Opposition leaders argue that such a change requires broader agreement and that the security situation makes nationwide implementation difficult.
Former president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo criticised the timetable as a unilateral decision and called for negotiations involving the federal government, regional administrations and opposition groups. He warned that proceeding without consensus could deepen political divisions and lead to competing electoral processes. Those warnings reflect the opposition’s assessment, rather than an established outcome of the announcement.
Puntland and Jubaland are among the regional administrations opposing the federal electoral framework. Opposition proposals include an expanded indirect voting system and a transitional administration to oversee the process. Their objections concern both the legitimacy of the constitutional changes and who controls preparations for the next election.
For voters and political organisations, the immediate deadline comes well before polling day. Registration is scheduled to reopen on 1 November and close on 22 November 2026. Parliamentary candidate lists are also due by 22 November, while campaigning for the parliamentary elections is scheduled to begin on 27 February 2027.
Those preparations must proceed in a country where the federal authorities cannot guarantee access to every community. Al-Shabaab retains control over large areas of the countryside and continues to carry out attacks on major population centres, despite military operations supported by an African Union mission. Its presence complicates voter registration, campaigning and the protection of polling facilities.
The disagreement therefore reaches beyond the choice of election dates. Direct voting promises citizens a greater role in choosing their representatives, but delivering it requires secure access, workable administration and political participation across regions. An announced timetable does not establish that those conditions have been met.
The commission is proceeding on the basis that the amended framework authorises the elections. Opposition leaders continue to demand an agreed alternative. With registration due to begin in November, Somalia’s political leaders face a narrowing period in which to settle differences before parties and voters must decide whether to participate in the announced process.
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