Galmudug opens long-awaited regional elections amid tight security

Voters across Galmudug state turned out in large numbers on Thursday as polls opened at 7:00 a.m. in all 11 designated districts for state assembly and House of Representatives elections, marking a pivotal step in the federal member state’s democratic transition after weeks of delay.

The vote, twice postponed at the request of political parties seeking more preparation time, is being watched closely as a test of Somalia’s broader push toward direct, one-person-one-vote elections at the state level. Galmudug follows Banadir and South West State in holding direct polls, part of a national electoral roadmap the federal election commission unveiled earlier this year.

Abdikarin Ahmed Hassan, chairman of the National Independent Electoral Commission, confirmed polling stations opened on schedule and described the atmosphere as calm.

“All 11 districts where we announced elections would take place in the Galmudug region have opened, voting began at 7:00 a.m., and we want to tell Somalis wherever they are that the process has started and will continue as planned,” Hassan said.