Mogadishu, Somalia – President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is set to officially unveil his newly rebranded political party, the Justice and Solidarity Party (JSP), on Wednesday in Mogadishu.
The rebranding comes as the National Consultative Council meeting, delayed twice from May 1–2 to May 5, finally took place on Tuesday in Mogadishu.
The meeting, led by President Mohamud and regional leaders, was held to tackle the electoral deadlock and intensify efforts in the fight against Al Shabaab.
Political shifts have taken center stage. The president’s new party marks a key move ahead of Somalia’s anticipated direct elections — the first since 1969.
President Mohamud will lead JSP as its presidential candidate. PM Hamza Abdi Barre will serve as chairman, and MP Abdirahman H. Odowaa will be Secretary General.
Three allied state leaders and Speaker Sheikh Adan Madobe are expected to hold senior positions in the party. Puntland and Jubaland remain opposed and absent.
The president’s push for a one-person-one-vote election has met rejection from key stakeholders, who say Somalia isn’t ready for such a shift in 2025.
“This isn’t reform — it’s consolidation,” said opposition MP Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame. “It ignores federalism and centralizes power under a single political bloc.”
Critics also note President Mohamud himself rejected similar reforms under former president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo — reforms he now embraces in a reversal of position.
“Back then, he said this path would lead to dictatorship,” Warsame added. “Now, he walks that same path without shame or consultation.”
It’s unclear if President Mohamud will compromise, as Farmaajo did in 2021, eventually leading to an indirect election that brought Mohamud back to power in 2022.
Southwest State, a key ally, declined a deputy chair role in JSP, calling it politically insignificant and reinforcing power within dominant central clans.
Speaker Adan Madobe has reportedly been assigned to mediate disputes, especially over inclusion and clan balance within the newly forming political structure.
Meanwhile, Mogadishu residents watch with skepticism. Many worry the political drama won’t translate into better services, jobs, or security on the ground.
“I just want peace and fair prices,” said Asha Kows, a tea-seller. “These leaders keep changing names, but our lives stay the same.”
Bakara Market shopkeeper Hussein Guleid added, “If this party ends corruption and brings stability, I’ll support it. But we’ve heard this all before.”
As President Mohamud prepares to unveil JSP tomorrow, Somalia’s political future hangs in the balance — with inclusion, trust, and compromise still elusive.
