Mogadishu: Somalia announced the conclusion of voter registration for the upcoming municipal council elections in Mogadishu, scheduled for Oct. 30. Officials have hailed this as a significant development in the country's democratic journey.

According to Anadolu Agency, nearly 1 million residents of Mogadishu have been registered to vote, as confirmed by the Independent National Electoral Commission. Commission Chairman Abdikarim Ahmed Hassan expressed satisfaction with the turnout and stated that the list of registered voters would be released on Oct. 27.

The announcement has surfaced amidst ongoing political debates regarding Somalia's electoral framework. Opposition figures, including former presidents Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, have expressed disapproval of the government's one-person, one-vote initiative.

Recent discussions between opposition leaders and President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud concluded without reaching an agreement. Opposition factions have indicated the possibility of conducting a parallel vote, criticizing the direct-election approach as unilateral.

In contrast, the 2022 election operated under Somalia's 4.5 clan-based system, distributing parliamentary seats equally among four major clans and a half-share to minority groups.