By HAN News Desk
MOGADISHU — Somalia’s Independent National Electoral and Boundaries Commission has warned that the country’s bid to hold a long-promised one-person, one-vote election could face delays unless international partners and domestic stakeholders increase financial and technical support.
In a statement issued on Monday, the commission urged donors and political leaders to engage immediately to accelerate election planning, including the development of a formal national election budget. It said sufficient funding was critical to keeping preparations on track.
“Without adequate resources, the electoral calendar could slip, undermining efforts to strengthen democratic governance,” the commission said, calling for “tangible” commitments from the federal government, federal member states and international partners.
The body also highlighted the need for robust international monitoring and financial oversight to ensure transparency and credibility throughout the process.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, whose term is due to end in the coming months, has pledged to deliver Somalia’s first direct local elections in more than six decades. His administration aims to move the country away from the clan-based power-sharing model that has shaped politics for years. Puntland, one of Somalia’s federal member states, has already held its own one-person, one-vote local elections.
The commission’s appeal reflects the mounting pressures facing Somalia as it attempts to implement sweeping electoral reforms amid financial constraints, political tensions and ongoing security challenges.
