Somalia’s electoral commission announced on 15 October that elections for both chambers of parliament will be held on 15 April 2027 and the presidential vote on 15 May 2027. Commission chair Abdikarim Ahmed Hassan said the presidential term runs from the date of swearing-in; President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s government declared a transition period through a constitutional amendment in May, which the opposition boycotted. Former presidents Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo and Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed rejected the timetable, and Sharif warned of parallel elections and possible civil conflict. A contested vote could split the federal government and its allies in the regions, weakening the campaign against al-Shabaab. It could also complicate donor and International Monetary Fund support.
Sources
- Al Jazeera: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/15/somalia-says-it-will-hold-elections-in-2027
- Reuters via ThePrint: https://theprint.in/world/somalia-says-it-will-hold-a-presidential-election-in-may-2027/3073243/
- Shabelle via allAfrica: https://allafrica.com/stories/202610150487.html
- The Japan Times: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/10/16/world/politics/somalia-presidential-election/