Election Report Praises Media Coverage, Warns of Disinformation in Peaceful Banadir Polls

Somalia’s Historic Banadir Elections Showcased Professional Media Coverage Amid Rising Disinformation

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) has released its comprehensive observation report on the Banadir Local Council Elections, highlighting both the peaceful nature of the historic polls and growing concerns about online misinformation. The elections, held on December 25, 2025, marked the first direct local council elections in Mogadishu since 1969.

According to the report, the elections represented a critical milestone in Somalia’s democratic journey, with 1,604 candidates competing for 390 seats across Mogadishu’s districts. Security measures were extensive, with nearly 10,000 troops deployed and a citywide lockdown implemented on election day. Despite these restrictions, voting proceeded without documented violence or unrest.

“Somalia’s democratic transition will depend not only on peaceful voting but also on the integrity of the information citizens rely on to make their choices,” said NUSOJ Secretary General Omar Faruk Osman. “This report shows that professional journalism can strengthen elections, and media freedom is an indispensable benchmark for credible elections.”

NUSOJ established a dedicated monitoring unit at its Mogadishu headquarters to track media coverage across multiple platforms, including radio, television, online news, and social media. The union focused on assessing access to information, fairness, accuracy, and the prevalence of misinformation throughout the electoral process.

The findings revealed that radio remained the dominant information source during the election cycle, accounting for approximately 58% of audience reach. Television followed with 29%, while online media represented 13%. Print media played a negligible role, with only one independent newspaper in circulation.

Private media outlets delivered the most professional coverage, demonstrating strong balance and editorial discipline during the politically sensitive period. These outlets largely adhered to the code of conduct jointly signed by the National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (NIEBC), NUSOJ, and the Ministry of Information.

However, the report noted that state media prioritized institutional messaging and gave disproportionate coverage to the ruling Justice and Solidarity Party, failing to provide equitable access to all political parties and candidates. While private media presented diverse viewpoints, editorial independence varied, with evidence suggesting that owners’ political affiliations influenced coverage in some cases.

The accreditation process generally facilitated media access, with 28 local and 12 international news organizations covering the elections. In total, 62 local journalists and 32 international media workers received accreditation. However, inconsistent enforcement of access rules and the accreditation of non-journalistic actors created confusion at some polling sites.

A significant concern highlighted in the report was the deterioration of the online information environment. Misinformation and disinformation were moderate to high before election day, declined slightly during voting, but then rose sharply in the days following the polls. These misleading narratives were amplified through viral sharing and platform algorithms, with some activity linked to accounts operating outside Somalia.

Multiple actors contributed to the spread of false information, including government-aligned communicators, opposition politicians, and members of the public. The report noted that opposition politicians often used clan identity to undermine the electoral process and increase tensions, sharing stories without adequate context or verification.

NUSOJ deployed ten trained local observers across all 16 districts of Mogadishu to assess voting conditions. They reported that 70-75% of polling stations opened on time, with manageable queues and average waiting times of just over 30 minutes. The voting process itself took approximately four to six minutes per voter.

The observation mission documented sporadic movement restrictions imposed by police between 5:00 am and 10:30 am, which limited access for journalists during critical early voting hours. These restrictions were lifted around midday following intervention from NUSOJ with election authorities and police leadership.

As part of its commitment to promoting responsible journalism, NUSOJ partnered with the NIEBC to organize pre-election training for 102 journalists. This program equipped participants with knowledge of election procedures, media ethics, and professional standards necessary for credible reporting during Somalia’s democratic transition.

The report concludes that the Banadir elections, being peaceful and largely successful, represent a positive step forward for Somalia’s democratic development. However, it emphasizes the urgent need to address misinformation, strengthen media independence, and build national mechanisms for countering divisive content online before future electoral cycles.