Overview
- The Independent National Elections and Boundaries Commission announced on Thursday that parliamentary elections will take place on April 15, 2027, followed by a presidential vote on May 15, 2027.
- The commission released a detailed calendar that reopens voter and party registration from Nov. 1–22, 2026, calls for a provisional voter register on Jan. 21, 2027, a final register on March 15, and starts campaign activity on Feb. 27, 2027.
- Key opposition groups and several federal member states have rejected the process, with former presidents and critics warning the unilateral schedule could produce parallel polls or new armed clashes.
- Large parts of southern and central Somalia remain under the control of Al-Shabaab, which limits the commission’s reach, and uncertainty over funding for the African Union force and Somali security forces adds practical obstacles to holding nationwide votes.
- The next test will be the November registration window, which will show if the government can broaden participation and secure funding and state cooperation or if the country will instead face deeper fragmentation and localised conflict.