Somali capital holds first direct elections in 50 years

The municipal vote in Mogadishu is being seen as a big step toward the country’s first nationwide direct elections since 1969

Citizens of Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, cast their ballots on Thursday in municipal elections designed to lay the groundwork for the country’s first direct national elections in more than half a century.

The East African country has not held direct elections since 1969, shortly before former military ruler Mohamed Siad Barre seized power in a coup.