BAIDOA, Somalia, (Horn post) Hassan Sheikh Mohamud announced that Southwest State will become the first federal member state to implement one-person, one-vote elections, marking a significant step in Somalia’s transition toward universal suffrage.
The president made the remarks during a large gathering in Baidoa, where he was joined by interim Southwest State leader Jibril Abdirashid Haji. The event, organized by Somalia’s Ministry of Family and Human Rights, brought together women from across the region to express support for the introduction of direct elections.
In his address, Mohamud outlined the federal government’s roadmap for implementing universal suffrage, emphasizing that Southwest State will serve as the pilot region for the electoral model. He said the government is committed to ensuring Somali citizens can exercise their constitutional right to vote directly.
The gathering highlighted the role of women in advancing democracy, peacebuilding and state formation, with participants underscoring their support for inclusive political participation and institution-building.
Mohamud also called on communities in Southwest State to strengthen social cohesion and support the democratization process. He said no legal action is being pursued against officials from the previous regional administration, urging stakeholders to move beyond past political disputes and work collectively toward a unified future.
Somalia has long relied on an indirect electoral system based on clan representation, and the planned shift to universal suffrage is seen as a key milestone in the country’s state-building and democratic reform efforts.
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