On 21 February 2020, the President of Somalia,
Mohamed Abdullahi (Farmaajo), signed into law the long-awaited electoral bill that has been in the making for years. The leaders of the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) celebrated the signing of the bill as a historic achievement, because the law should, in theory, allow citizens to directly elect their representatives in the parliament for the first time since 1969. Moreover, the law was designed to be implemented during parliamentary election scheduled for later this year, and presidential election early next year

The prospects of a permanent peace or prolonged conflicts are both potentially high in Galmudug. Notwithstanding the political booby traps, there is still a rare window of opportunity to find a comprehensive settlement to the political crises that has paralyzed Galmudug for years. Luckily, some key actors in the state seem to understand the importance of holding free, fair and democratic elections in the near future.