JSP Respects Supreme Court Decision, Prepares for Fresh Galmudug Elections

MOGADISHU — The Justice and Solidarity Party (JSP), which is led by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, has formally accepted the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Galmudug State elections, stating that it respects the decision and is ready to participate in a repeat vote.

In a statement issued on August 26, 2026, the party affirmed that it respects and accepts the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Galmudug electoral dispute. The JSP stated that its core principles include a belief in the supremacy of the law, the independence of judicial institutions, and the resolution of electoral disputes through constitutional and legal processes .

The party also confirmed that throughout the electoral process, it adhered to all applicable laws and procedures required of a political organization participating in the elections, particularly in Galmudug. The JSP further declared that it is prepared to participate in the repeat elections for the local councils and the House of Representatives of Galmudug State, in full compliance with the constitution, electoral laws, and other relevant regulations .

The JSP expressed gratitude to its members, supporters, and the people of Galmudug who voted for the party, and called on them to prepare once again for the campaign and participation in the upcoming repeat elections, doubling their efforts and commitment .

The JSP emerged as the dominant force in the initial elections held on July 30, 2026, securing 115 local council seats with 106,388 votes (55.55 percent) and 63 of the 89 parliamentary seats. The party’s candidate, Liban Ahmed Hassan, had been designated as the sole presidential candidate by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, a move that drew criticism from opposition parties who accused the federal government of interfering in the electoral process .

The elections, held across 11 districts in the Galgaduud and Mudug regions, marked the first one-person, one-vote poll in Galmudug since the federal member state was established. A total of 197,971 voters cast their ballots, of which 191,504 votes were counted as valid and 6,467 were registered as invalid .

The Towfiiq Party came in second place in both contests, with 49 local council seats and 12 parliamentary seats, followed by Karaamo (29 local / 5 parliamentary), Sincad (25 local / 6 parliamentary), and other smaller parties .

The party’s statement comes after the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Bashe Yusuf Ahmed, ruled on August 24, 2026, that the Galmudug elections held on July 30, 2026, were not conducted in accordance with the constitution and electoral laws, and therefore their results were invalid . The Court ordered the National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to conduct repeat elections as soon as possible .

The Supreme Court’s ruling followed legal challenges to the electoral process in Galmudug State, with the Chairman of the Tawfiq Political Party, Sheikh Mohamed Shakir Ali Hassan, voicing deep disappointment over the conduct of the elections and alleging irregularities, violence, and the exclusion of party representatives from polling stations. “What happened is not something we are satisfied with, not something we expected, and not something we accept as political organizations,” Sheikh Shakir said . The Tawfiq Party subsequently formally rejected the final results, declaring the outcome invalid and calling for an independent review .

The electoral process was overshadowed by a deep political rift between President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and NISA Director Mahad Mohamed Salad over who should lead Galmudug. The dispute became public when Salad decided to contest the presidency against the federal government’s preferred candidate, exposing deep fractures within the ruling party . The intelligence chief had reportedly informed both President Mohamud and Prime Minister Barre directly that he planned to run for the Galmudug presidency himself .

A political standoff also emerged between the Federal Government and the Galmudug State administration following a controversial dual appointment for the position of Galmudug Police Chief . The federal authorities appointed Colonel Mohamed Dahir Abdulle, while President Qoorqoor issued a state decree rejecting the federal move and reappointed Khaliif Abdulle Maalin (Ilkacase) .

The JSP has been actively positioning itself ahead of the Galmudug elections, officially inaugurating its regional headquarters in Dhusamareb in July 2026 in a high-level ceremony attended by federal and regional officials. The opening came after Galmudug regional authorities rejected earlier efforts by the JSP to establish party offices and appoint representatives in districts across the state, deeming the action illegal and contrary to political party regulations .

JSP candidate Liban Ahmed Hassan outlined a three-point agenda during his campaign in Dhusamareb, pledging to rid Galmudug of Al-Shabaab militants within six months, spearhead community reconciliation efforts, and deliver rapid development and inclusive governance. His nomination was formally announced at the party’s Mogadishu headquarters .

The JSP was officially launched in Mogadishu in May 2025, bringing together prominent figures from across Somalia’s political landscape, including four deputy leaders: Abdiaziz Hassan Laftagareen, Sadia Yasin Samatar, Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, and Deputy Prime Minister Salah Ahmed Jama .

The JSP demonstrated its electoral strength in the December 2025 Banadir local council elections, securing a commanding lead across Mogadishu’s 16 districts with 98,421 votes (46.7 percent) in the first direct “one-person, one-vote” election held in the capital in over five decades . The party secured more than half of its total votes from just three major districts: Kaaraan (20,589), Yaaqshid (12,958), and Wadjir (10,247) .

The political tensions surrounding the Galmudug elections have been the subject of high-level negotiations, with a delegation of senior Somali politicians returning to Mogadishu after meetings with Galmudug President Qoorqoor. Key issues discussed included a proposal that Qoorqoor be allowed to participate in upcoming elections as a candidate under a separate political party, alongside questions over the composition and independence of the electoral commission .

NISA Director Mahad Mohamed Salad arrived in Dhusamareb in June 2026 for high-level talks with President Qoorqoor as the political rift threatened to destabilize the region. President Qoorqoor was said to be insisting on his right to participate in the political process under the JSP, while also indicating he could join another party if his position was not accepted .

Critical Note

The JSP’s acceptance of the Supreme Court’s ruling represents a significant moment in Somalia’s electoral jurisprudence. By publicly affirming its commitment to the rule of law and judicial independence, the party has set a precedent for how political actors should respond to adverse court rulings. However, the JSP’s position is also a strategic calculation—having already secured a commanding victory in the now-overturned election, the party is effectively endorsing a process that nullifies its own success, betting that it can replicate its performance in a repeat vote.

The Supreme Court’s ruling and the JSP’s acceptance of it highlight the critical role of the judiciary in resolving electoral disputes and upholding the rule of law. However, the allegations of irregularities, violence, and federal interference underscore the deep mistrust that has characterized the electoral process in Galmudug .

The electoral commission’s refusal to extend the campaign period, despite appeals from multiple parties, suggests a process that prioritizes expediency over inclusivity. The NIEBC has been accused of being a rubber stamp for the federal government’s preferences rather than an independent arbiter of a free and fair contest .

The constitutional crisis over the police chief appointment and the political rift between President Mohamud and his intelligence chief further complicate the situation. Without transparent investigation into the alleged irregularities and a commitment to releasing results that accurately reflect the will of the voters, the Galmudug elections risk being remembered not as a milestone for democracy, but as another example of political manipulation in Somalia’s federal member states .