The Somali National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (NIEBC) announced on Saturday the results of the elections for Hirshabelle State's House of Representatives and local councils. The commission's chairperson, Abdikarim Ahmed Hassan, stated that the elections were held peacefully across 10 districts in Hirshabelle. The voting, counting, and result aggregation processes were completed without major incidents. This development marks a significant step forward for Somalia's electoral process.
The local council elections in Hirshabelle involved 13 political organizations competing for 222 seats. A total of 114,633 votes were cast, with 112,466 valid votes and 2,167 rejected votes. The Justice and Unity Party (JSP), led by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, received the largest share of local council seats with 76,732 votes, securing 158 seats. Other parties also participated, with varying degrees of success.
The results for the local council elections showed that Tiir received 761 votes and one seat, while Madalsan received 5,909 votes and 14 seats. Muwaadiniinta Soomaaliyeed received 1,230 votes and one seat, and the Somali Democratic Party received 2,353 votes and one seat. Additionally, the Somali People's Party received 119 votes and no seats, Iftiin Qaran received 9,776 votes and 12 seats, and Karaama received 6,679 votes and 17 seats.
In the House of Representatives election, 114,633 votes were cast, with 112,451 valid votes and 2,182 rejected votes. The House of Representatives election involved 13 political organizations competing for 99 seats. The JSP also won the largest number of seats in the House of Representatives, securing 78 seats. Other parties secured smaller numbers of seats.
The remaining House of Representatives results showed that Tiir received 759 votes and one seat, while Madalsan received 911 votes and one seat. Muwaadiniinta Soomaaliyeed received 1,222 votes and one seat, and the Somali Democratic Party received 2,368 votes and two seats. Furthermore, the Somali People's Party received 113 votes and no seats, Iftiin Qaran received 6,165 votes and five seats, and Karaama received 6,875 votes and six seats.
Abdikarim Ahmed Hassan commended the people of Hirshabelle and the security forces, including police, military, and intelligence agencies, for helping to secure polling sites. He emphasized that the commission is ready to play its role in preparing future federal elections, including elections for both houses of Somalia's Federal Parliament. This readiness is crucial for Somalia's ongoing electoral process.
The successful completion of these elections represents a significant milestone for Somalia's democratic development. The NIEBC's announcement of the results marks a crucial step towards consolidating the electoral process in the country. Key stakeholders, including political parties and civil society organizations, are expected to continue supporting the electoral process.
Key points
- The Justice and Unity Party (JSP) won the largest share of local council seats and House of Representatives seats in Hirshabelle.
- A total of 114,633 votes were cast in both the local council and House of Representatives elections.
- The elections were held peacefully across 10 districts in Hirshabelle, marking a significant step forward for Somalia's electoral process.
