Thursday, July 3, 2025 — HAN
BAIDOA, SOMALIA — The President of South West State, Mr. Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed (Laftagareen), has become the first citizen to receive a voter registration card as part of the newly launched voter registration campaign across the South West regions of Somalia.
The high-profile launch event took place in Baidoa and marked a major step towards the region’s efforts to hold one-person, one-vote elections.
The ceremony drew participation from state legislative members, officials from the National Independent Electoral Commission, the Boundary Commission, and a broad cross-section of community leaders and civil society groups.
In his remarks, President Laftagareen urged the people of South West State to register in large numbers.
Mr. Laftagareen emphasized that widespread participation in the voter registration process is essential to strengthening democracy and ensuring that all citizens have a voice in the upcoming elections.
The voter registration campaign is seen as a significant milestone in Somalia’s broader push for inclusive governance and credible electoral processes.
This advocates for direct elections in Somalia to replace the current indirect system, arguing it will empower the Somali people and prevent corruption. This shift would mean citizens directly electing their representatives instead of relying on electoral colleges or clan elders, and consequently, would make it more difficult to manipulate the election of the president and parliament members through corrupt practices.
