Thursday, May 14, 2026 (Baidoa Online) โ Somalia's electoral commission on Thursday announced the results of unified elections in Southwest State, saying the Justice and Unity Party won a majority in the regional House of Representatives.
Abdikarim Ahmed Hassan, chairman of the National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, said the May 10 vote was held peacefully across 13 districts in Southwest State. The elections were organized to choose members of the regional House of Representatives and local councils.
"Today, we are announcing the results of the May 10 by-elections held in the Southwest region," Hassan said at a news conference in Baidoa.
The commission said 132,430 votes were cast. Of those, 128,276 were valid, or about 97 percent, while 4,154 ballots were spoiled.
In the House of Representatives contest, 95 seats were contested by 32 political organizations. The Justice and Unity Party, known as JSP, won 67,970 votes, or 53 percent of valid ballots, securing 51 seats.
Horumar iyo Midnimo Qaran came second with 18,667 votes and 14 seats. Karaamo followed with 14,708 votes and 11 seats.
Sincad won six seats, while Tawfiq secured four. Several smaller parties, including Waabari, Madalsan, Muwadiniinta Soomaaliyeed, Saab, Ramaas and Dhalinyarada Talo Qaran, each won one seat.
The results come as Somalia faces a widening political dispute over the federal government's push for a one-person, one-vote electoral system. Southwest State has become the first federal member state to hold direct elections at the regional level under the current process.
Major opposition groups boycotted the vote, accusing the federal government of unilaterally managing the process and claiming the outcome was predetermined. Federal officials and election authorities have defended the elections as part of Somalia's transition away from indirect voting and toward broader public participation.