Somalia’s electoral commission has scheduled parliamentary elections for April 15, 2027, and the presidential vote for May 15, but opposition leaders reject the timetable, citing a lack of political consensus.
MOGADISHU, Somalia (Somali Report) — Somalia's electoral commission on Thursday announced a timetable for parliamentary and presidential elections in 2027, setting the parliamentary vote for April 15 and the presidential election for May 15, amid a deepening political dispute over the country's electoral process.
The National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission said in a statement that elections for both chambers of the federal parliament would take place on April 15, 2027, followed by the presidential vote a month later.
The commission said the parliamentary election date was set in accordance with Article 18, paragraph two, of the National Elections Law, which requires the election date to be specified 180 days before voting takes place.
It also cited Article 112 of Somalia's amended constitution, which establishes a five-year presidential term beginning on the day the president is sworn into office.
The commission said the timetable was intended to ensure that the country's federal institutions operate within the framework of the amended constitution and national electoral legislation.
The announcement comes as Somalia remains divided over how the next elections should be conducted, with the federal government pushing for a transition to direct voting while opposition leaders have challenged the legitimacy of the process and constitutional changes adopted earlier this year.
Opposition groups have rejected the proposed electoral timetable, arguing that there is no political consensus on the process. They have raised concerns over constitutional amendments, the mandate of federal institutions and the role of political stakeholders in determining the country's electoral arrangements.
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The dispute has intensified tensions between President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's administration and opposition figures, including members of the Somali Future Council, an alliance of prominent political leaders that has opposed the government's unilateral approach to electoral reform.
The opposition has argued that the mandates of parliament and the presidency expired in April and May 2026, respectively, under the previous constitutional framework. The government, however, maintains that constitutional amendments extending institutional terms to five years allow it to remain in office until May 2027.
The disagreement has complicated efforts to establish an electoral roadmap accepted by the federal government, opposition groups and leaders of Somalia's federal member states.
The government has defended its push for a one-person, one-vote system, saying direct elections would give citizens a greater role in choosing their representatives and move the country away from the indirect voting model used in previous electoral cycles.
Opposition leaders have called for a negotiated agreement on the electoral process, warning that proceeding without broad political consensus could deepen divisions and threaten stability.
The commission's announcement sets out dates for the next federal elections, but it remains unclear whether the timetable will secure the support of the country's main political stakeholders.
The implementation of the schedule will depend on preparations for the polls and efforts to resolve the continuing political disagreement over the electoral framework.
The announced dates and the opposition's rejection of the timetable were reported by Somali media on October 15, 2026.
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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