Mogadishu (SONNA) – The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, H.E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has hailed the peaceful conduct of one-person, one-vote elections held Saturday across 13 districts in the South West State, describing the polls as “a new chapter in Somalia’s history.”
Speaking on the country’s overall situation, the President said thousands of citizens, including elders, youth, and people with special needs, turned out to cast their ballots for local councils and state representatives without security incidents being reported.
“Today, citizens in 13 districts exercised their democratic right to elect local councils and representatives of the South West State administration. As we speak near the end of the day, no major security threats or disruptions have occurred, and people continue to stand in long queues to vote,” the President said.
President Hassan Sheikh also commended Somali security forces for safeguarding the electoral process and preventing attempts to undermine the democratic exercise by “Al-Shabaab militants and other anti-state actors.”
Addressing the situation in Mogadishu, the President criticized what he described as politically motivated protests aimed at destabilizing the country, questioning why demonstrations were organized on the same day as the elections and a government-backed national consultation meeting.
“The protest was not organized in good faith; it was intended to create instability in Somalia,” he said, adding that while the government respects citizens’ constitutional right to demonstrate peacefully, it will not tolerate disorder or armed intimidation.
The President reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to protecting constitutional freedoms while ensuring national security and stability.
In his closing remarks, President Hassan Sheikh urged Somali politicians seeking leadership positions to present constructive political programs capable of earning public support, warning against exploiting public emotions and sensitivities for political gain.
