Mogadishu, Somalia – A senior government team, headed by Interior Minister Ali Yusuf Ali Hosh, visited Abdiaziz district in Banadir region on Wednesday to review voter card distribution efforts and encourage public engagement in Somalia’s democratic transition.
Accompanying Hosh were Public Works, Reconstruction and Housing Minister Dr. Elmi Mohamud Nur and Deputy Minister of Endowments and Religious Affairs Osman Ma’ow.
The participation of these key officials demonstrates the government’s commitment to making the upcoming elections successful.
The delegation examined multiple distribution sites across the district, evaluating electoral commission procedures and measuring community response.
Besides technical assessment, the visit facilitated direct communication with Abdiaziz residents, emphasizing the importance of the voter registration drive.
During these conversations, government officials emphasized that acquiring a voter card represents a civic obligation rather than just an administrative task.
They highlighted that broad public involvement is crucial for validating the new electoral system.
In their remarks to locals, the ministers described how the “One Person, One Vote” approach will transform Somali politics. They explained that voter card collection initiates a process enabling citizens to directly choose representatives for both local councils and national institutions.
“This process returns decision-making power to the citizens,” the delegation told community members.
They encouraged residents to use this opportunity to influence their neighborhood’s and country’s future through voting.
The Abdiaziz visit forms part of a broader government initiative to register all Mogadishu inhabitants and prepare them for the landmark elections, representing a significant shift from past indirect voting methods.
