The Chairman of the National Electoral and Borders Commission, Abdikarim Ahmed Hassan, arrived in Baidoa on Monday, leading a delegation tasked with preparing for the upcoming general elections in the South West State of Somalia.
The trip follows the Electoral Commission’s plans to implement direct one-person, one-vote elections, which are part of the country’s new electoral system.
The delegation was welcomed at Shati Gaduud Airport by officials from the Bay regional administration and Badyhabo district, including regional and district officials.
The Electoral Commission Chairman said that the elections for the South West House of Representatives and the 11 local councils in the region will take place on April 28, meaning that within 45 days, the region will have a directly elected President and MPs.
He indicated that these elections are an important step in ensuring public participation and the development of democracy in the South West.
While in Baidoa, the committee will hold consultation meetings with local authorities, community representatives, traditional leaders, and other stakeholders in the region. These meetings will focus on:
The chairman also stressed that the support of the community and regional authorities is essential for the success of the elections, and will lead to the South West becoming a good example of the implementation of the one-person-one-vote system in the country.
In a speech in Baidoa yesterday, the President, who detailed the Government’s plan to implement direct elections, indicated that the South West State will be the first region in the country to implement the one-person-one-vote elections, noting that the government is committed to ensuring that the Somali people enjoy their constitutional right to direct elections.
