MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has postponed the official launch of his newly expanded political alliance, the Justice and Unity Party (JSP), following unresolved negotiations over power-sharing with regional leaders — particularly from Southwest State.
The launch, initially slated for Wednesday at the Sahal Terminal Hall near Mogadishu’s international airport, was put on hold as talks continue behind closed doors. The delay comes amid growing tensions over leadership roles within the party, insiders confirmed.
The party, previously President Mohamud’s personal political platform, has been restructured to include representatives from Galmudug, Hirshabelle, and Southwest states. The move is widely seen as a strategic effort to consolidate regional backing ahead of the president’s push toward universal suffrage — a shift from Somalia’s traditional clan-based 4.5 power-sharing system.
While Galmudug and Hirshabelle authorities have reportedly accepted their positions within the party framework, Southwest State leader Abdiasis Laftagaren is holding out, demanding a more prominent role in the party’s leadership hierarchy.
“These consultations are essential to avoid future political rifts,” a senior official involved in the negotiations told Somaliguardian on condition of anonymity. “Without Southwest’s buy-in, the party lacks national credibility.”
The president’s broader strategy is to unify three key states — two of which are dominated by his own Hawiye clan — to build momentum toward a one-person, one-vote electoral system. This electoral model, however, remains opposed by the regional administrations of Jubaland and Puntland, who argue that conditions for free and fair elections do not yet exist.
If Southwest State declines to join the new party, analysts warn that President Mohamud’s agenda could lose critical momentum. The coalition would then represent fewer than one-quarter of the national clan power structure and control only two of Somalia’s five federal member states — a political imbalance that could jeopardize his push for electoral legitimacy.
The ongoing negotiations are expected to continue in the coming days, with sources saying a new launch date will be announced only if consensus is reached.
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