Somalia’s electoral commission has accepted a Supreme Court ruling annulling the July 30 Galmudug elections and ordering a fresh vote over alleged violations of electoral law.
MOGADISHU, Somalia (Somali Report) — Somalia's National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has accepted a Supreme Court ruling that annulled the results of recent simultaneous parliamentary and local elections in the central Galmudug state, the commission said in a statement Wednesday.
The court on August 24 ruled that the elections, held on July 30, had not been conducted in accordance with Somalia's constitution and electoral laws and declared their results invalid.
Supreme Court Chief Justice Baashe Yusuf Ahmed said the court had determined that the parliamentary and local council elections in Galmudug were not administered or conducted in line with the country's legal framework.
"The court has decided that the simultaneous elections ... were not administered and conducted in accordance with the constitution and electoral law," Baashe said when announcing the ruling.
The court subsequently ordered the national electoral commission to return to Galmudug and organise fresh elections at the earliest practical opportunity.
In its response, the electoral commission welcomed the ruling and said it accepted the court's decision.
The commission said it would announce the date for the repeat elections at a later stage, with the new vote intended to address irregularities and complaints raised by some political organisations that participated in the July elections.
The ruling marks a significant intervention in Somalia's evolving electoral process and is expected to have political consequences in Galmudug, where the elections had been presented as part of broader efforts to advance local democratic participation.
The simultaneous vote for state lawmakers and local councils was closely watched as Somalia continues to develop its electoral institutions after years in which political representation was largely determined through indirect selection processes.
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The Supreme Court's decision has triggered considerable political reaction, coming at a sensitive period for Somalia as the country grapples with disputes over electoral arrangements, constitutional issues and relations between the federal government and member states.
The annulment also raises questions about the political and administrative implications of restarting the electoral process in Galmudug, including the organisation of a new campaign, voter registration and polling arrangements.
The electoral commission's acceptance of the ruling could help avoid an immediate institutional confrontation between the judiciary and the body responsible for administering elections.
However, the repeat vote is likely to attract close scrutiny from political parties and candidates who contested the original elections.
Somalia has been seeking to strengthen its electoral system and move towards direct voting, but the process has been accompanied by disagreements among political actors over electoral laws, constitutional amendments and the distribution of political authority.
The Galmudug ruling adds another layer of uncertainty to that process and highlights the challenges facing electoral authorities as they attempt to establish procedures that are accepted by competing political groups.
The electoral commission did not provide a specific date for the repeat elections, saying it would announce the timetable later.
The July 30 elections will therefore remain without legal effect until a new vote is held in accordance with the court's ruling and the applicable electoral framework.
About the Author
Ahmed Omar is a senior journalist for Somali Report, based in Mogadishu. He has two decades of experience reporting on Somalia for international and local media. He covers politics, security, governance, business, trade, economic developments and regional affairs.
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