Somalia's Federal Supreme Court Annuls Galmudug Election Results, Orders Fresh Vote

Somalia's Federal Supreme Court on Monday, August 24, 2026, annulled the results of Galmudug's July 30 combined state assembly and local council elections — the region's first direct, universal-suffrage vote — ruling that the process violated the constitution and Somalia's electoral law. Chief Justice Bashe Yusuf Ahmed, announcing the decision in Mogadishu, said irregularities during the vote caused 'significant damage to the independence, freedom and fairness of the elections and had affected their outcome.' The annulled results covered 63 state assembly seats (won by the Justice and Solidarity Party) plus local council races across 11 districts in the Mudug and Galgaduud regions; the Towfiiq party had challenged the results, alleging manipulation. The court ordered the National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (NIEBC) to conduct a fresh election 'at the earliest possible time' following proper legal procedure, without setting a specific date; incumbent officials remain in their posts until lawfully elected replacements take office. The ruling — coming as Galmudug's vote was meant to showcase Somalia's transition toward one-person-one-vote elections, following South West State's May 2026 direct ballot — raises new doubts about that transition and adds fresh strain between Mogadishu and Galmudug's regional leadership.