Justice and Solidarity Party (JSP)

What is the JSP?

The Justice and Solidarity Party is Somalia's ruling party. Its Somali name is Xisbiga Cadaaladda iyo Wadajirka. Some outlets translate it as the "Justice and Unity Party" (AllAfrica, 14 May 2025).

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud launched it in Mogadishu on 13 May 2025. He became party leader and its candidate for the next presidential election (Garowe Online, May 2025). It is his third party, after the Peace and Development Party of 2011 and the Union for Peace and Development of 2018. See Union for Peace and Development.

Who is in it?

At the launch, the party set up a leadership council with a leader, four deputy leaders and a secretary general (Goobjoog News). Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre attended and became deputy chairman (same source). Goobjoog reported that federal and state leaders took key posts.

Garowe Online described the party as a merger of political groups allied to the leaders of South West, Hirshabelle and Galmudug. Teams from Jubaland and Puntland were not part of it (Garowe Online, May 2025).

Leadership changes in 2026

• March 2026: Secretary-General Odawaa resigned, citing a "deepening breakdown in leadership" (Dawan Africa, 26 Apr 2026).
• April 2026: Hussein Sheikh Mohamud, a former senator and the President's adviser on constitutional affairs, became Secretary-General. MP Hussein Mohamed Noor "Dhagaweyne" became Deputy Secretary-General (same source).

How many members does it have?

The party began signing up members in December 2024, before its formal launch (Dawan Africa, 26 Apr 2026). In April 2026 its Secretary-General gave these figures (same source):

• Online registrations: 1,032,727.
• Active members: more than 197,000.
• By region: South West had the most sign-ups, then Banadir, Hirshabelle and Galmudug. Puntland and Jubaland had small numbers.
• Target: two million members.

He said: "This shows we have strong public support and trust, and that we can lead one-person, one-vote elections" (same source).

How has it done in elections?

Parties must register with the National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission under the Political Parties law of November 2024 (SONNA, Nov 2024). The JSP won the most seats in each direct vote held in 2025 and 2026:

• Mogadishu (Banadir) district councils, 25 December 2025: 177 of 390 seats, ahead of Towfiiq (49) and Ramaas (42). Twenty parties stood (Dawan Africa, Apr 2026). Key opposition parties boycotted the vote (Hornreview, 25 Dec 2025).
• South West local councils, May 2026: 148 of 297 seats (Dawan Africa, 14 May 2026).
• Galmudug assembly rerun, 30 September 2026: 67 of 89 seats (Dawan Africa, 2 Oct 2026). The Supreme Court had annulled the first vote of 30 July on 24 August 2026 (Dawan Africa, Aug 2026), and the party said it would accept the rerun (Dawan Africa).
• Hirshabelle assembly, 30 September 2026: 78 of 99 seats, and 158 of 222 local council seats (Dawan Africa, 3 Oct 2026).

See Elections in Somalia for every vote.

What have critics said?

• Puntland: its President, Said Abdullahi Deni, called the party a "power grab" and a threat to the federal system (Garowe Online).
• Opposition: opposition leaders said the party undermined unity and federalism (Radio Dalsan).
• Centralisation: critics quoted by Horseed Media said it could concentrate power in Mogadishu (Horseed Media).
• Supporters: a federal minister called the launch "a milestone for democracy" (Halqabsi, May 2025).

Related pages

• Hassan Sheikh Mohamud
• Elections in Somalia
• Tayo