Somalia’s Galmudug Bars President’s Party from Setting Up District Offices

GALMUDUG, Somalia — Authorities in Somalia’s Galmudug state have rejected attempts by the ruling Justice and Solidarity Party to establish party offices and appoint representatives in district hubs, calling the move illegal and outside established political party regulations.

The appointments, announced Sunday, named Abdimanan Mohamed Osman as the JSP representative for Galkayo in Mudug region and Ali Ahmed for Adado in Galgadud region.

Galmudug’s Ministry of Interior said the designations have no legal basis and stressed that the state is finalizing rules that will govern how political parties participate in elections, particularly at the local council level. The ministry said it would investigate those responsible, describing the actions as “unlawful.”

The ruling party, led nationally by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and including senior figures such as Galmudug President Ahmed Abdi Kariye Qoorqoor, has come under heightened scrutiny over the attempted appointments. Opponents accuse the party of trying to gain an unfair advantage ahead of local polls.

Officials said political parties planning to contest upcoming elections must wait until formal procedures are approved by the Galmudug Ministry of Interior and the federal election body. The disputed election authority, referred to as the National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (NIEBC), has previously urged federal member states to allow registered political parties to open offices within their territories.

The standoff highlights a broader uncertainty over the mechanics of party activity at the state level as Somalia’s regions work to align local election preparations with federal frameworks. Galmudug’s interior ministry signaled that new guidelines would clarify when and how parties can organize at the district level and under what conditions party representatives may be recognized.

• What was attempted: JSP named district-level representatives in Galkayo and Adado.
• Galmudug’s response: The state rejected the move as unlawful and said an investigation is underway.
• What’s next: Parties must wait for official procedures to be finalized by the Ministry of Interior and the federal election body.

It was not immediately clear when Galmudug’s guidelines would be completed or when local council timelines might be announced. For now, state authorities are signaling that any party activity outside the coming rules will not be recognized.

By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.