2023 Puntland municipal elections
The 2023 Puntland municipal elections took place on Thursday, May 25, 2023, in the Puntland state of Somalia. The elections were the second time the autonomous region had held one-person, one-vote elections. "Puntland had achieved a significant historic victory, with 30 districts holding peaceful elections," Puntland Interior Minister Abdi Farah Juha said Background This article discusses the phased process of conducting local government elections (LGEs) in Puntland, Somalia. It highlights the agreements made between various political actors, including political associations, the Puntland state, and the Transitional Puntland Electoral Commission (TPEC). The initial phase focused on voter registration, which was completed in certain regions before reaching other areas. The total number of registered voters, including early elections participants, is 387,094. The article acknowledges that voter registration is crucial but also a stage where unresolved political disputes may arise, potentially causing delays in subsequent phases. Challenges such as conflicts over district demarcation and lack of support from certain political parties and elites have affected the voter registration process in Puntland. The transition to the one person one vote (OPOV) system in Puntland has faced volatility and obstacles. The article emphasizes the need for significant efforts to ensure peaceful, fair, and timely completion