Overview
- Election authorities reported more than 500,000 ballots cast across 523 polling stations in 16 districts, with about 1,600 candidates competing for 390 council seats.
- Security forces numbering roughly 10,000 enforced a citywide lockdown and closed the capital’s main airport to protect the vote.
- Major opposition parties and leaders from federal member states boycotted the election, calling it flawed and warning they could run parallel processes without a negotiated roadmap.
- The poll follows a 2024 law restoring universal suffrage, while an agreement leaves the presidency to be chosen by parliament even as lawmakers move toward direct election in 2026.
- Analysts and UN reporting point to al-Shabab’s sustained capability and funding shortfalls for the AU mission, raising doubts about scaling direct voting nationwide.