Local elections in Somalia’s semi-autonomous region of Puntland will be held May 2023, Puntland state, Said Abdullahi Deni confirmed Sunday.
Deni said the elections of the local council were agreed to kick off on May 25, 2023, after consulting with the Puntland elections committee.
The leader confirmed that the electoral commission will soon conclude the voter registration which is taking place in 37 districts across Puntland state.
Remarks of the leader come days after reports claiming that Voter Registration Computers of The transitional Puntland Electoral Commission (TPEC) emerged in the Galkayo town of Mudug.
The computers which were under the custody of TPEC staff at Omar Samatar School in northern Galkayo city reportedly disappeared from the station.
The registration was undermined by the refusal of some of the local political associations which accused Deni of using the process to extend his term ending in January 2024.
Deni took office in 2019 after defeating his predecessor, Abdiweli Ali Gaas.
Puntland state in northeastern Somalia was founded in 1998.
