Galmudug Election Results Announced Amid Allegations of Irregularities and Federal Interference

DHUSAMAREB — The Chairman of the National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (NIEBC), Abdikarim Ahmed Hassan, has officially announced the final results of the Galmudug State local council elections, marking the conclusion of a historic one-person, one-vote process held on July 30, 2026. The elections have been overshadowed by allegations of irregularities and federal interference.

In a press conference held in Dhusamareb, Hassan confirmed that voting had been successfully completed across 11 districts in the Galgaduud and Mudug regions. A total of 197,971 voters cast their ballots, of which 191,504 votes were counted as valid and 6,467 were registered as invalid.

A total of 16 political organizations participated in the local council elections, competing for 247 seats across the 11 local councils. Meanwhile, 12 political organizations contested for the 89 seats of the regional parliament (Galmudug State Assembly). The NIEBC had previously released the official timeline for the elections, outlining the schedule for the historic vote.

Full Results by Political Party: Local Council Elections

The NIEBC Chairman announced the following results for the 16 participating political organizations in the local council elections:

Summary: Regional Parliament Results (12 Parties)

JSP Wins Landslide Victory

The Justice and Solidarity Party (JSP) emerged as the dominant force in the elections, securing 115 local council seats — nearly half of the 247 contested — with 106,388 votes, representing 55.55 percent of all valid votes cast. In the regional parliament contest, JSP secured 63 of the 89 seats (70.8 percent). The party’s candidate, Liban Ahmed Hassan, had been designated as the sole presidential candidate by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, a move that drew criticism from opposition parties who accused the federal government of interfering in the electoral process.

The Towfiiq Party came in second place in both contests, with 49 local council seats and 12 parliamentary seats, followed by Karaamo (29 local / 5 parliamentary), Sincad (25 local / 6 parliamentary), Madalsan (10 local / 0 parliamentary), Ramaas (7 local / 1 parliamentary), Saab (4 local / 0 parliamentary), and Qiimo Qaran (3 local / 0 parliamentary). The remaining parties failed to secure any seats in either contest.

The elections, held across 11 districts in the Galgaduud and Mudug regions, marked the first one-person, one-vote poll in Galmudug since the federal member state was established. Galmudug is now the second federal member state, after South West State, to hold direct elections under Somalia’s ongoing democratic transition.

Towfiiq Party Rejects ‘Any Alteration’ of Results

However, the credibility of the electoral process has been called into question by the federal government’s heavy-handed role in shaping the outcome. Galmudug President Ahmed Abdi Kariye (Qoor-Qoor) withdrew from the presidential race following talks with federal officials, clearing the way for the federal government’s preferred candidate. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud designated Liban Ahmed Hassan as the sole candidate for the ruling party, bypassing internal party competition and raising concerns about the independence of the electoral process. The NISA Chief’s arrival in Galmudug amid election tensions further fueled suspicions of federal interference in the electoral process.

The chairman of the Tawfiq Political Party, Sheikh Mohamed Shakir Ali Hassan, has voiced deep disappointment over the conduct of the elections, alleging irregularities, violence, and the exclusion of party representatives from polling stations. Speaking at a press conference in Dhusamareb, Sheikh Shakir criticized the management of the electoral process and claimed that party representatives were barred from certain polling stations and that voters were subjected to intimidation and violence.

“We will not accept or recognize any changes, omissions or additions to the results,” Sheikh Shakir said. “We will only recognize the correct results that are in accordance with the law.” He said that Towfiiq and other political associations had deployed trained representatives to every polling station to monitor the vote and record the official results at each location. The Tawfiq Party had launched its campaign in Hobyo ahead of the elections, positioning itself as a significant challenger in the Galmudug political landscape.

Sheikh Shakir also accused security forces of interfering in the electoral process, alleging that some party agents were arrested, threatened or prevented from carrying out their responsibilities on election day. He called for an investigation into the reported incidents and urged authorities to hold anyone responsible for violating the rights of election observers accountable. Sheikh Shakir had previously alleged irregularities as vote counting continued, calling for transparency and accountability.

He warned that the party would resort to peaceful demonstrations if the announced results differed from those documented by its polling agents. “If our expectations are not met, we will organize peaceful demonstrations,” he said, urging supporters to remain peaceful and avoid violence.

Allegations of Federal Interference

The Galmudug state government has previously accused the NIEBC chairman of actively campaigning for Villa Somalia’s handpicked presidential candidate. In a statement released in June, Galmudug declared that NIEC chairman Abdikarim Ahmed Hassan had abandoned neutrality and was working to deliver the Galmudug election to Liibaan Ahmed Hassan, a former militia commander and close ally of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

The accusation followed weeks of escalating tension between Dhusamareb and Mogadishu over who controls the electoral process. Galmudug’s information minister, Ali Mohamed Farah Seeko, stated that his government would reject any election arrangement imposed without a political agreement involving local government, the Galmudug administration, and the federal government.

The electoral commission’s refusal to grant an extension to the campaign period, despite requests from political parties citing logistical challenges and the need to reach voters across Galmudug’s vast districts, has raised further questions about its independence and commitment to a level playing field. The commission had rejected calls to delay the July 25 polls despite campaign time concerns from multiple parties. The vote counting process had been underway with reports of delays in remote districts, raising concerns about the completeness and accuracy of the final tally.

Critical Note

The announcement of the Galmudug election results marks a significant milestone in Somalia’s transition to direct democratic representation, but the process has been deeply tainted by allegations of federal interference, irregularities, and violence. The withdrawal of the incumbent president and the designation of a single candidate for the ruling party raise serious concerns about the independence and credibility of the electoral process. The electoral commission’s refusal to extend the campaign period, despite appeals from multiple parties, suggests a process that prioritizes expediency over inclusivity. The Towfiiq Party’s threat of peaceful protests, if verified discrepancies emerge between polling station records and announced results, underscores the fragility of public trust in electoral institutions. Without transparent investigation into the alleged irregularities and a commitment to releasing results that accurately reflect the will of the voters, the Galmudug elections risk being remembered not as a milestone for democracy, but as another example of political manipulation in Somalia’s federal member states. The international community would be well advised to scrutinize the process and to press for accountability, lest it further erode public confidence in Somalia’s democratic institutions.