MOGADISHU – The National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (NIEBC) has finalized (15 out of 16 districts) the count for Mogadishu’s historic municipal elections, confirming a dominant performance by the Justice and Solidarity Party (JSP) association. This first-of-its-kind direct poll in over 50 years saw 233,314 citizens cast ballots across 16 districts, marking a pivotal shift away from the traditional clan-based “4.5” power-sharing model.
Despite a boycott from several opposition groups, the NIEBC reported that 1,604 candidates from 20 political associations competed for the city’s 390 district council posts. Long queues were observed at many of the 523 polling stations, with the highest participation recorded in the Kaaraan and Yaaqshid districts.
While the process was celebrated as a milestone for Somali democracy, officials noted that 9.7% of all ballots were declared invalid, highlighting a significant need for expanded voter education in future universal suffrage cycles. The process of forming local council is expected to commence in the coming days.
Overall Election Metrics
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Total Districts Polled: 16.
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Total Votes Cast: 233,314.
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Total Valid Votes: 210,586.
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Total Invalid Votes: 22,728 (approx. 9.7%).
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Total Available Posts: 390 District Council seats.
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Participating Political Associations: 20.
Association Performance (Ranked by Valid Vote Share)
| Political Association | Total Valid Votes | Percentage Share |
| JSP | 98,421 | 46.7% |
| Towfiiq | 29,918 | 14.2% |
| Ramaas | 22,446 | 10.7% |
| Karaama | 20,534 | 9.7% |
| Sincad | 9,682 | 4.6% |
| Saab | 6,922 | 3.3% |
| Others (14 associations combined) | 22,663 | 10.8% |
District-Specific Highlights
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Highest Participation: Kaaraan recorded the highest district-level turnout with 40,233 total votes cast.
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Strongest Winner Margin: JSPS secured more than half of its total votes from just three major districts: Kaaraan (20,589), Yaaqshid (12,958), and Wadjir (10,247).
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Highest Invalid Ballots: Kaaraan also saw the most spoiled ballots (3,650), followed by Yaaqshid (2,568).
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Smallest Turnout: Abdelaziz recorded the lowest overall participation with 4,367 total votes cast.
