MOGADISHU – President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, has officially launched a new political party named the Justice and Solidarity Party (JSP).
The establishment of the party was declared during a high-level event held in Mogadishu on Tuesday evening, attended by Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, several Federal Member State leaders, senior government officials, and other invited guests.
The launch marked the conclusion of the party’s founding congress, its first national convention, where the leadership structure of the organization was formally established.
The creation of JSP comes at a critical time as Somalia prepares for the long-anticipated transition to a one-person, one-vote electoral system.
The party becomes one of the latest political organizations to enter the competitive landscape ahead of the 2026 general elections.
The country is preparing to hold a one-person-one-vote election that will replace the complex indirect voting system currently in place.
The East African country has over the years conducted an indirect electoral system, where clan delegates select the members of the national parliament, which then chooses the president.
Under the new system, the president will be elected directly. The next presidential election is scheduled for 2026.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was elected as the leader of the party and confirmed as its presidential candidate for the upcoming elections.
The upcoming local elections are part of Somalia’s federal government’s strategy to transition away from the 4.5 clan-based power-sharing model, which has historically divided parliamentary representation among the four dominant clans and a half-share for minority groups.
The last national election, held in 2022, utilized an indirect model, where clan elders and regional leaders selected parliamentary members who later elected the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia.
The Horn of Africa nation has not conducted direct elections since 1967. The new voter registration drive is the first in nearly five decades that residents in Mogadishu will have access to voter registration centers.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud emphasized the party’s commitment to the principles of justice, unity, and national reconciliation.
He called on citizens to embrace inclusive politics and peaceful democratic participation.
The leadership council of the Justice and Solidarity Party consists of a diverse group of senior national figures.
The four deputy leaders elected are Abdiaziz Hassan Laftagareen, President of Southwest State; Sadia Yasin Samatar, the current Deputy Speaker of the Federal Parliament; Hamza Abdi Barre, the current Prime Minister; and Salah Jama, the current Deputy Prime Minister.
A Secretary General will also serve on the leadership council, although their name has not yet been publicly disclosed.
The President Hassan Sheikh led Coalition is rooting for a unified local council; with elections envisaged to start at district-level elections across all Federal Member States (FMSs) followed by state-level parliamentary and presidential elections.
Political parties will contest in the district elections, with the two parties gaining the most number of council seats then recognised as Somalia’s two national parties.
The formula has been strongly opposed by Jubaland and Puntland states. It will necessitate significant changes in the current provisional federal constitution.
