Photos: Galmudug, Hirshabelle Begin Local Council Elections

Dhusamareb(SONNA)-Local council elections opened Wednesday across parts of Galmudug and Hirshabelle states, with voters turning out to elect representatives to local councils.

Abdikarim Ahmed Hassan, chairman of Somalia’s National Independent Electoral Commission (NIEC), officially opened the polling process in Dhusamareeb.

“Polling stations have opened this morning in 10 districts of Hirshabelle State and 11 districts of Galmudug State,” Hassan said.

Officials from the Federal Government, Galmudug administration and local communities joined voters at polling stations, including in Gaalkacyo, where residents cast ballots to elect members of the regional representative and local councils.

The vote in Galmudug marks the second electoral process after Somalia’s Supreme Court annulled the results of the previous election.

“This is a dream come true for thousands of people who had never voted before today,” MP Abdirahman Cagaweyne said.