Somalia’s elections in question as Poll body seeks backing

The National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (NIEBC) has issued a “legal notice” amid growing uncertainty surrounding Somalia’s electoral timeline, stating that it remains “fully committed to completing” the process but noting political and financial challenges.

The notice, released on Sunday, stressed that the Commission was acting “in fulfillment of its constitutional mandate” and informed stakeholders that it would continue implementing the national electoral timeline despite the ongoing challenges.

NIEBC called on all electoral stakeholders “to extend their cooperation and support,” stressing that such collaboration is essential for implementing priority areas. The Commission stated that it aims to foster “an enabling environment for political dialogue and consensus-building, with the shared objective of advancing a nationwide one-person, one-vote electoral system.”

More importantly, the Commission urged the mobilization and securing of the financial resources required “to successfully implement all stages of the national electoral process in a timely and efficient manner.” It also stressed the importance of finalizing the national election security framework to ensure “a safe, orderly, and credible electoral environment across all stages of the process.”

The Somalia’s elections have been in limbo. The current administration has insisted on moving away from the traditional indirect electoral system toward a one-person-one-vote model, and it has been pushing this agenda for the past two years. This shift has faced objections not only from major opposition figures but, more importantly, from key Federal Member States such as Puntland and Jubbaland, both of which have shown no interest in participating in the federal government’s initiative.

As a result, the relationship between these two administrations and the federal government has been characterized by a prolonged political deadlock that has lasted nearly two years, at times escalating into outright confrontation. Parallel to this, a large bloc of opposition figures — originally united under the umbrella of the Somali Salvation Forum — has, together with the presidents of Puntland and Jubbaland, formed a new coalition known as the Somali Future Council. Despite their opposition to the government’s proposed electoral model, neither the opposition nor the leaders of Puntland and Jubbaland have presented a concrete alternative. Instead, they continue to call for a “consensus-based model.”

One of the major points of contention dividing the federal government, some Federal Member States, and the opposition is the constitution. The current administration has introduced several constitutional amendments. Although it has walked back some of these changes, it continues to insist on others. Multiple rounds of talks aimed at resolving these disagreements have already failed.

Another striking issue highlighted in the recent statement by the NIEBC concerns the need for funding and the establishment of an election-security framework. The international community, traditionally provided for financing a significant portion of Somali institutions, has recently shown reluctance to provide further funding. Even the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), a multinational peacekeeping force, is struggling to secure adequate resources. International partners have also expressed growing concerns about continued funding for Somalia’s state-building project.

The absence of a consensus on the electoral model has intensified skepticism among international partners about the feasibility of the upcoming elections. The latest statements highlight deep structural gaps in Somalia’s preparations for the 2026 polls, gaps that are becoming more evident by the day. Without agreement on key issues and with major questions surrounding the electoral framework still unresolved, the path toward an accepted election roadmap remains unclear.