Baidoa, April 6, 2026 — The interim leader of South West State, Jabriil Cabdirashiid Xaaji, has held high-level talks with the head of Somalia’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, Cabdikariim Axmed Xasan, in Baidoa, focusing on advancing the country’s electoral process.
The meeting, which took place at the presidential palace in Baidoa, centered on accelerating election preparations and strengthening institutional cooperation between South West State authorities and the federal electoral body.
Both sides emphasized the importance of delivering a transparent, credible, and inclusive electoral process to reinforce democratic governance and state-building efforts in Somalia. Officials highlighted that sustained collaboration between regional administrations and national institutions is key to ensuring successful elections.
Jabriil Cabdirashiid Xaaji commended the efforts of the electoral commission, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to supporting initiatives aimed at organizing free and fair elections. He stressed that political stability and democratic progress depend on credible electoral systems.
For his part, the electoral commission delegation underscored the need for continued coordination to address logistical and administrative challenges ahead of upcoming elections.
The meeting concluded with an agreement to enhance ongoing cooperation, with both parties pledging to work closely toward achieving national electoral goals and strengthening good governance frameworks.
