Galkayo, Galmudug – The Minister of Defence of the Federal Government of Somalia, Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, formally registered today at the National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (NIEBC) centre in Galkayo, Mudug region, marking a significant step in the nation’s democratic journey.
Upon collecting his voter registration card, Fiqi issued a strong call to action, urging Somali citizens and communities nationwide to actively enroll in the process. He emphasized that broad participation is vital to reclaiming the nation’s long-denied democratic rights and creates the opportunity to select representatives who will serve at every level of government including district, federal member state, and national roles.
Describing the occasion as a personal honour and a historic turning point, Fiqi highlighted that generations of Somalis have gone without voting in a direct election for more than five decades.
“Today I arrived in Galkayo, and it is an honour to formally register and receive my voter card for the district, federal member state, and national elections,” Fiqi stated. “Elections are a constitutional right that have been absent from the hands of the people for 56 years, and today that right has been restored to the citizens of Somalia.”
He added, “I urge every Somali, wherever they may live, to register and determine their own future.”
The Minister stressed that this process is crucial for state-building and national advancement. He noted that widespread citizen participation forms the basis for implementing the government’s intended one-person-one-vote system, noting that authentic, representative governance that embodies the will of the people can only be achieved through public engagement.
