Mogadishu (Raxanreeb Online) – Abdirisak Hassan, the former security adviser to Somalia’s transitional president Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, has said that Somalia is unlikely to hold any form of national elections in the coming months.

In an exclusive interview with Raxanreeb Media, Hassan discussed the recent Puntland elections as well as the federal polls expected later this year. He stated that neither an indirect election nor a One-Person-One-Vote system can be implemented by May, noting that even the simplest electoral arrangements cannot be organized within a single year.

Hassan added that a credible One-Person-One-Vote election would require at least two years of preparation, citing political and security constraints.

Responding to questions about the planned local council elections scheduled for the end of this month, the former adviser said he does not expect these elections to take place soon, describing them as processes that demand extensive time and resources.

He noted that while some areas in Somalia are relatively secure, the country still lacks consistent nationwide safe locations where elections could be held, apart from Mogadishu and a few limited areas.

Hassan concluded that Somalia must first address key political and security challenges before reliable, trusted elections can be conducted across the country.