Towfiiq Party excluded from Galmudug State re-run elections

The National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (NIEBC) has excluded the Towfiiq Party from the upcoming re-run elections in Galmudug State, scheduled for September 30, 2026. While 12 other parties have been authorized to contest the House of Representatives and local council seats, Towfiiq was notably absent from the official list.

The exclusion follows a period of legal instability in the region. Somalia’s Supreme Court recently annulled the results of previous elections in Galmudug after the Towfiiq Party challenged the process, leading Chief Justice Bashe Yusuf Ahmed to order fresh elections due to deviations from constitutional principles of fairness and impartiality.

Towfiiq, led by Sheikh Shakir Sheikh Mohamed, is a significant political actor that previously secured 12 parliamentary seats in the annulled election. The party has expressed concerns regarding the integrity and management of the upcoming vote. The NIEBC has not yet provided a detailed explanation for the party's exclusion, raising concerns that the decision could shift the political balance and reignite tensions in areas like Dhuusamareeb and Guriceel.