The National Independent Electoral Commission has announced 12 political organizations eligible to participate in Galmudug’s repeat election, with the Towfiiq Party led by Sheikh Mohamed Shaakir Ali Hassan notably absent from the list.
MOGADISHU, Somalia — The National Independent Electoral Commission has announced the list of political organizations approved to participate in Galmudug State’s repeat election, which is scheduled to take place on September 30, 2026.
The list contains 12 political organizations, while the Towfiiq Party, led by Sheikh Mohamed Shaakir Ali Hassan, has been left out. The party has significant political influence across Somalia’s central regions.
The development comes after the Towfiiq Party played a prominent role in the legal challenge that led to a decision by the Supreme Court of Somalia to annul the results of the previous Galmudug election.
The Supreme Court previously ruled that the earlier election had not been conducted or administered in accordance with Somalia’s Constitution and electoral laws, prompting the need for a repeat election.
In a statement, the National Independent Electoral Commission said it issued the list as part of its legally mandated responsibilities and in implementation of the electoral timetable released by the commission on August 31.
According to the commission, the 12 political organizations included on the list submitted their candidate lists and were determined to have met the requirements for participation in the election.
The organizations approved to participate include Caddaaladda iyo Midnimadda Tiir, Madalsan, Muwaadanniinta Soomaaliyeed, Dimuqraadiyadda Soomaaliyeed, Caddaaladda iyo Wadajirka, Dadka Soomaaliyeed, Karaama, Saab, Dan Shacab, Sincad, Dhalinyarada Talo Qaran and Ramaas.
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The exclusion of Towfiiq is likely to attract particular attention given the party’s recent criticism of the way the national electoral commission has been managing the electoral process.
In recent days, Towfiiq has repeatedly called for the country’s electoral laws to be respected and for the commission to adhere to the recent Supreme Court ruling concerning the previous Galmudug election.
The commission, meanwhile, informed political organizations and other electoral stakeholders that the deadline for submitting candidate lists for the repeat election had officially closed.
The Galmudug repeat election is expected to draw significant political attention, particularly amid ongoing debate over the electoral process and the eligibility of political organizations to participate.
The absence of the Towfiiq Party, led by Sheikh Mohamed Shaakir, could trigger further political debate over the conduct of the election and the implementation of previous court decisions.
With the vote scheduled for September 30, the repeat election will represent an important test of Galmudug’s electoral process and the ability of political stakeholders to accept and participate in the new electoral arrangements.
About the Author
Bashir Guhad is a reporter at Somali Report covering politics, security, business, and trade across the Somali region.
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