Analysis: Power Consolidation? Somalia’s Hassan Sheikh Launches Party Before 2026 Vote  

MOGADISHU, Somalia - With a few months to elections, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has formed a new political party, in what appears to be a broader strategy to consolidate power, even with a number of unresolved issues, which threaten to divide the country.

The new party — Justice and Solidarity Party (JSP) - is an amalgamation of political formations allied to the leaders of Southwest, Hirshabelle and Galmudug, sidelining teams from Jubaland and Puntland, due to internal political tussles.

Launched on Tuesday evening, the Justice and Solidarity Party will be led by Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as the party leader and the 2026 presidential candidate. Hassan Sheikh shall be seeking his third term, having served from 2012-17 and 2022-2026.

The Justice and Solidarity (JSP) will be led by a leadership council, which includes a leader, four deputy leaders, and a secretary general. Hassan Sheikh is pushing for direct polls, leading to resistance from Puntland and Jubbaland, which have insisted on inclusivity.

The party has four deputy leaders: Abdiaziz Hassan Laftagareen (Southwest leader), Sadia Yasin Samatar (current deputy speaker), Hamza Abdi Barre (current PM), and Salah Jama (current deputy PM)

Former presidents Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed alias Farmajo, the leader of Puntland, and Said Abdullahi Deni, who have their own political parties, are expected to compete with the new party for the chance to lead the country from next year.

The new political party deepens further political divisions in the country, with the opposition warned that the shift signals a return to one-party rule [Dictatorship]. The critics accuse the outgoing president of consolidating power instead of focusing on promised reforms.

Also, they are accused of failing to invest in national security, the fight against Al-Shabaab, and preparations for an inclusive election, with just one year remaining in his term. Hassan Sheikh has struggled to contain violent extremism in the country.

Recently, the Al-Shabaab militants ran over the Somali National Army camp at Adan Yabaal, exposing lapses in the security sector. Critics insist that Hassan Sheikh is obsessed with grabbing power at the expense of handling critical national issues, including security lapses.

GAROWE ONLINE