Somalia Holds First Direct Election in 50 Years Amid Opposition Boycott and Deepening Crisis

The ballot boxes are open, but the political divisions are wider than ever. For the first time in more than 50 years, residents in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, are casting direct votes for local representatives on December 25. However, the milestone event is overshadowed by a total boycott from major opposition figures, including two former presidents, sparking fears that the intended step toward democracy could instead accelerate a national fracture.

A Landmark Vote Under Heavy Guard

Polling stations across Mogadishu opened at 6am local time, according to Al Jazeera. In what President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud called a "new chapter in the country's history," about half a million registered voters are set to choose from 1,605 candidates for 390 district council seats across 523 polling stations. It's the first time Somalis have held direct elections since 1969, just before a military coup. Authorities have deployed nearly 10,000 police officers and imposed a city-wide lockdown to secure the vote.

Fierce Backlash: "An Illegitimate Process"

The vote's legitimacy is deeply contested. Prominent opposition leaders, including former presidents Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed (known as Farmaajo), have slammed the process as exclusionary and illegitimate. They claim the process "opens the door to dangers that threaten the security of the country." Crucially, two powerful federal states, Puntland and Jubbaland, have rejected the framework outright. Earlier this month, these opposition figures met and threatened to hold their own separate national elections, signaling a dangerous political standoff.

Security Threats and Wavering Alliances

This political crisis is unfolding against a backdrop of grave security concerns. The armed group al-Shabab launched a major offensive in February 2025, and UN experts recently warned that its ability to carry out attacks "remains undiminished." To make matters worse, support from key international partners appears to be faltering. The Trump administration has reportedly recalled its ambassador to Mogadishu as part of a broader pullback from Africa. Washington has also expressed deep concern over the security situation, warning it was no longer prepared to continue funding the African Union peacekeeping mission indefinitely.