This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the historic municipal elections held in Mogadishu on December 25, 2025. This event marked the first time in over 50 years that residents of the Somali capital exercised their right to vote through direct universal suffrage.
1. Executive Summary
On December 25, 2025, Mogadishu held its first direct local council elections since 1969. Despite significant security measures and a city-wide lockdown, approximately 233,314 citizens cast ballots to elect representatives for 390 district council seats. While the government hailed the event as a democratic milestone, the process was clouded by a boycott from major opposition figures and two key Federal Member States (Puntland and Jubbaland), who labeled the vote “symbolic” and “exclusionary.”
2. Election Results & Data
The National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (NIEBC) released the final results on December 31, 2025. The data reflects a dominant performance by the ruling party.
Voter Participation
| Category | Figures |
| Total Registered/Cast | 233,314 |
| Valid Ballots | 210,586 |
| Invalid/Rejected Ballots | 22,728 |
| Contested Seats | 390 seats across 16 districts |
Seat Distribution by Political Party
The results showed a high concentration of power, with five major parties securing 85.4% of the available seats.
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Justice and Solidarity Party (Cadaaladda iyo Wadajirka): 177 seats (46.3% of the vote).
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Tawfiq Party (Towfiiq): 49 seats (13.6% of the vote).
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Ramaas Party (Ramaas): 42 seats (9.7% of the vote).
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Karaama Party (Karaama): 39 seats (9.4% of the vote).
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Sincad Party (Sincad): 26 seats (4.3% of the vote).
3. Key Challenges & Opposition
The election was a “pilot test” for the 2026 national elections, but it faced steep internal resistance:
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Opposition Boycott: Prominent figures criticized the registration process as lacking legitimacy and transparency.
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Regional Rejection: The states of Puntland and Jubbaland refused to participate, arguing that the framework centralizes power in Mogadishu and threatens the federal structure.
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“Stage-Managed” Allegations: Critics and analysts noted that the lack of international partner support and the exclusion of rival heavyweights made the vote more “symbolic” than representative.
4. Security Environment
The election took place under a total city-wide lockdown:
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Deployment: Over 10,000 police officers were stationed across the city.
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Restrictions: Vehicle movement was banned, and the main airport was closed for the duration of the polling.
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Context: While the polls remained peaceful, the threat of al-Shabab remains significant; the group recently reversed government gains in regions only 60km from the capital.
5. Strategic Implications for 2026
This election serves as a precursor to the 2026 national polls. Two conflicting trajectories are emerging:
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Government Vision: Moving toward universal suffrage to dismantle the traditional clan-based system (4.5 system).
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Opposition Warning: Without a consensus-based framework, the 2026 polls risk a legitimacy crisis similar to the 2021-2022 standoff, potentially leading to parallel elections by dissenting states.
Transparency Somalia Initiative (TSI)