Mogadishu(WDN) — A reported election timetable attributed to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has surfaced through sources close to the presidency, triggering surprise and skepticism across Somalia’s political landscape.

The proposed schedule yet to be officially confirmed outlines a tightly packed sequence of regional and federal elections stretching from May to December 2026. According to insiders, the plan was quietly submitted to the national electoral authorities after being drafted within Villa Somalia.

What has drawn particular attention is not only the breadth of the timeline, but the assumption that such an extensive electoral process could unfold smoothly in a politically fragmented environment where consensus on electoral rules remains deeply contested.

A Compressed Electoral Calendar

According to the leaked outline:

South West State

• May 10: Elections for regional parliament and local councils.
• May 25: Presidential election—critics argue this is widely expected to produce a predetermined outcome involving Aden Mohamed Nur Madobe.

Galmudug and Hirshabelle

• May 31: Parliamentary and local council elections in both states.
• June 17: Hirshabelle presidential election.
• June 25: Galmudug presidential election.
• July 5: District-level elections in Gedo and Sool, regions where political tensions and security concerns remain unresolved.

Federal Level

• August to November: Elections for the 12th Federal Parliament and Senate, reportedly under a direct voting model.
• December 22, 2026: Scheduled presidential election for the Federal Government.

Surprise and Political Doubt

The emergence of the timetable has been met with a mixture of surprise and skepticism among political observers, many of whom question its feasibility.

The schedule assumes a level of consensus and institutional capacity that simply does not exist. A former legislator told WardheerNews “It reads more like a theoretical roadmap than a practical electoral plan.” Critics argue that the framework risks reinforcing perceptions of managed outcomes rather than competitive elections, particularly in regions where political influence is already heavily contested.

A Plan Ahead of Consensus

Most significantly, the reported roadmap has emerged without broad agreement from key federal member states and opposition blocs, fueling concerns that the process is being driven more by executive design than by genuine national consensus.

As Somalia enters a critical pre-election period, the gap between political planning and ground realities appears to be widening. For now, the timetable remains unofficial—but its circulation has already intensified debate over the credibility and direction of the country’s electoral process.

WardheerNews