The Somali government announced today, Sunday, that the country will elect the president and other officials through direct voting starting next year, thereby ending the indirect voting system. According to a statement published by the Somali National News Agency (SONA), the "individual elections" system will be implemented starting next year, with direct voting every five years.
It was added that the government's structure will be amended, the position of Prime Minister will be abolished, and a presidential system will be established in which the president and vice president are elected directly by the public on a single ballot. During a press conference at the Presidential Palace, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud announced that the leaders had decided to return power to the public to elect their leaders and representatives. This decision was made after Federal and State leaders agreed on the country’s electoral process.
The statement outlined that the elections for districts and federal regions across the country, which will be the first elections under the new system, are scheduled to take place in June of next year, while the voting for regional government heads will occur in November 2024. This decision followed a four-day meeting in the capital, Mogadishu, chaired by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
