Public voter registration for Somalia’s long-awaited local council elections officially began today in Shangani District, Mogadishu — a milestone event in the country’s ongoing push for democratic reform.

Local residents gathered early in the morning, forming long queues at registration centers, signaling a strong public will to take part in choosing their local representatives — a right that has been out of reach for over five decades.

The Governor of Banaadir Region, Mohamed Ahmed Amir, was the first to register, setting a symbolic tone for the process and encouraging broader public participation.

This marks the first time in 50 years that direct local elections are being held in Mogadishu, offering citizens a rare opportunity to elect district council members through a “one person, one vote” system.

The Chair of the National Independent Electoral Commission, Abdikarin Ahmed Hassan, has confirmed that the Commission is fully prepared for the election. According to Hassan, all technical resources and election materials are in place to carry out the process as scheduled.

The registration in Shangani is seen as a crucial test of the country’s electoral readiness and a key step toward strengthening democratic governance in Somalia, especially in the capital — a city long marred by conflict and political instability.