List of political parties in Somalia

Politics of Somalia

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This article lists political parties in Somalia. In 2017 an independent electoral commission was inaugurated with a mandate to oversee the process of registration of political parties in the country, according to Article 47 of the Federal Provisional Constitution which provides for an electoral system. The system guarantees participation of every individual who subscribes to a political party.[1] NIEC has registered over 100 political parties, most of which still operate from outside the country for security reasons.[2] For this reason, political parties still remain relatively weak in the country.

In October 2019 six parties joined to form the Forum for National Parties, an alliance founded by former president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed which has come together to address the political and security issues faced by Somalia.[3] The alliance includes Himilo Qaran party, led by former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, and Peace and Development Party led by current President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. Other key leaders joining the coalition include Ilays party leader Abdulkadir Osoble, former South West President Sharif Hassan and former defense minister Mohamed Abdi, the first interim president of Azania.

## Overview and background

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During the civilian administration which existed prior to the seizure of power by the Supreme Revolutionary Council (SRC) in 1969, there were a number of local political parties. Most notable of these early institutions was the Somali Youth League, the nation's first political organization. Upon assuming office, the SRC (led by Siad Barre) outlawed all extant political parties,[4] and established the Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party to advocate a form of scientific socialism inspired by 1960s Soviet Union.[5] Following the outbreak of the civil war in 1991 that saw the ouster of the Barre regime, many of the few remaining political parties gave way to autonomous or semi-autonomous regional states, or fragmented into feuding militia groups. After several unsuccessful national reconciliation efforts, a Transitional Federal Government (TFG) was formed in 2000 with a five-year mandate leading toward the establishment of a new constitution and a transition to a representative government.[6] The Federal Government of Somalia was established on August 20, 2012, concurrent with the end of the TFG's interim mandate. It represents the first permanent central government in the country since the start of the civil war.[7]

On 29 May 2017, the Somali Political Parties Registration Office was established in Mogadishu. The office's job is to bring the country to the party system and remove it from the current 4.5 clan power-sharing system.[8][9] On 3 December 2017, the Independent Electoral Commission began registering political parties in Somalia for the first time in 50 years.[10]

## Parties

[edit]

7th President of Somalia Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, founder and leader of Himilo Qaran 8th President of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, founder and chairman of the Peace and Development Party 9th President of Somalia Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, founder and Secretary-General of Tayo

### Current

[edit]

As of 2023, the National Independent Electoral Commission (NIEC) has registered a total of 110 parties.[11] Some of the notable ones include:

Party  | Ideology  | Note

|
|

| CAHDİ Party | Liberalism
Federalism | Member of the Liberal International
| Cosmopolitan Democratic Party | Liberalism | Party led by women
| Democratic Party of Somalia | Nationalism | Founded by the son of Siad Barre
| Forum for National Parties | Islamic democracy | Political alliance
| Haldoor Party | Big tent | Supports the strengthening of the government
| Himilo Qaran | Islamic democracy | Member of the Forum for National Parties
| Qaransoor Party | Reformism | New political party
| Social Justice Party | Democratic socialism | Founded by former Mayor of Mogadishu
| Somali Patriotic Movement | Anti-communism | Also operates as a paramilitary organisation
| Somalia Green Party | Green politics | Member of the Green Parties of Africa

Local chapter of Federation of Green Parties of Africa

| Somali Labour Party | Social democracy | Founded in Toronto
| Somali Social Unity Party | Social democracy | Operates both in Somalia and abroad
| Nabad iyo Nolol | Liberalism
Civic nationalism
Progressivism
Environmentalism | Party of former president [citation needed]
| Union for Peace and Development Party | Conservatism
Islamic democracy
Nationalism | The UPD is an Islamist party formed by the merger of the Daljir Party and Peace and Development Party in 2018. It is currently led by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. The party is closely linked to Al Islah, the Somali branch of the Muslim Brotherhood. It is also a Member of the Forum for National Parties.
| Wadajir Party | Social democracy
Democratic socialism
Progressivism
Reformism | Formed by a former minister

### Former

[edit]

Name | Ideology | Note

|
|

Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia | Islamic democracy | Formed after dissolution of Islamic Courts Union
Somali Democratic Union | Somali nationalism
Greater Somalia
Nasserism
Pan Arabism
Socialism | Formed by dissidents of the Somali Youth League. Nicknamed Calan Cas or Red Flag Party.
Somali African National Union | Somali nationalism | Ally of the Somali Youth League
Somali National Alliance | Hawiye's interests
Anti-communism | Political alliance
Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party | Islamic socialism
Arab Socialism
Marxism–Leninism
Pan-Somalism
Pan Arabism
Scientific socialism
Somali nationalism
Arab Nationalism | Party of Siad Barre
Somali Youth League | Somali nationalism | First party in Somalia
Hizbia Dastur Mustaqil Somali | Somali Nationalism
Greater Somalia
Federalism
Rahanweyn interests
| Originally founded in 1947 and called Hizbia Digil Mirifle, the HDMS advocated federalism, decentralization and for the interest the citizens of the inter-riverine regions between the Jubba and Shabelle rivers.[12] They were among the four biggest political parties during the Somali Republic and received 8.78 percent of the vote during the 1964 General Election.[13]
United Somali Congress | Anti-communism | Rebel organisation
United Somali Parliamentarians | Big tent | Group of parliamentarians in the transitional parliament
Work and Socialism Party | Socialism | Small leftist party
Peace and Development Party | Islamic democracy | Islamist party closely linked to Al Islah, the Somali branch of the Muslim Brotherhood; Merged with the Daljir Party in 2018.
Daljir Party | Liberalism
Cultural conservatism
Islamic democracy | Islamist party; Merged with the PDP in 2018

### Puntland

[edit]

As of May 2020, there are 17 registered political parties in Puntland.[14]

Current parties of Puntland  Name | Ideology | Note

|
|

Horseed | Conservatism | First political party in Puntland
Justice and Equality | Islamic democracy

Social conservatism

| New political organisation
Kaah | Democracy | Ruling party
Ururka Dadka Puntland | Democracy | Previously the ruling party

### Somaliland (disputed entity)

[edit]

Further information: List of political parties in Somaliland

Current parties of Somaliland  Name | Ideology | Seats

|
|

For Justice and Development | Democratic socialism
Social democracy |

21 / 82

Kulmiye | Social liberalism |

30 / 82

Waddani | Nationalism
Populism
Islamic democracy |

31 / 82

## See also

[edit]

* Politics of Somalia
* Lists of political parties

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Somalia's National Independent Electoral Commission Sets Up Office Of Registrar Of Political Parties". UNSOM. 23 May 2017.
2. ^ "Registered Political Parties". NIEC. Retrieved 2022-05-16.
3. ^ "In Somalias nascent democracy clans could still be needed". Garowe Online. 8 November 2019.
4. ^ Metz, Helen C., ed. (1992), "Coup d'Etat", Somalia: A Country Study, Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress, retrieved October 21, 2009.
5. ^ Peter John de la Fosse Wiles, The New Communist Third World: an essay in political economy, (Taylor & Francis: 1982), p. 279 ISBN 0-7099-2709-6.
6. ^ Central Intelligence Agency (2011). "Somalia". The World Factbook. Langley, Virginia: Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 2011-10-05.
7. ^ "Somalia: UN Envoy Says Inauguration of New Parliament in Somalia 'Historic Moment'". Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. 21 August 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
8. ^ "Xafiiska Diiwaangelinta Xisbiyada Siyaasadeed oo laga furay Muqdisho". BBC News Somali (in Somali). 2017-05-29. Retrieved 2020-11-02.
9. ^ "Somalia sets up office to register political parties - Xinhua | English.news.cn". www.xinhuanet.com. Archived from the original on May 24, 2021. Retrieved 2020-11-15.
10. ^ "Somalia: 7 political parties created for first time in 50 years". Middle East Monitor. 2017-12-04. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
11. ^ "Registered Political Parties". NIEC. 2017-07-23. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
12. ^ Mukhtar, Mohammed H. (1989). The Emergence and Role of Political Parties in the Inter-river Region of Somalia from 1947 to 1960 (Independence). London. pp. 308–313.308-313&rft.date=1989&rft.aulast=Mukhtar&rft.aufirst=Mohammed+H.&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:List+of+political+parties+in+Somalia" class="Z3988">`{{cite book}}`: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
13. ^ Samatar, Abdi Ismail (2016). Africa's First Democrats: Somalia's Aden A. Osman and Abdirazak H. Hussen. Indiana University Press. p. 124\. ISBN 9780253022370.
14. ^ "Akhriso magacyada ururada siyaasadeed ee Puntland iska diiwaan galiyey (muuqaal) | Puntlandes.com". Retrieved 2020-12-02.

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* t
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Political parties in Somalia

Current|

* CAHDİ Party
* Cosmopolitan Democratic Party
* Democratic Party of Somalia
* Forum for National Parties
* Haldoor Party
* Himilo Qaran
* Qaransoor Party
* Social Justice Party
* Somalia Green Party
* Somali Patriotic Movement
* Somali Labour Party
* Somali Social Unity Party
* Tayo
* Union for Peace and Development Party
* Wadajir Party

Former|

* Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia
* Daljir Party
* Greater Somalia League
* Peace and Development Party
* Somali African National Union
* Somali National Alliance
* Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party
* Somali Youth League
* United Somali Congress
* United Somali Parliamentarians
* Work and Socialism Party

Puntland|

* Horseed
* Justice and Equality
* Kaah Political Association
* Ururka Dadka Puntland

Somaliland (disputed)|

* For Justice and Development
* Kulmiye
* United Peoples' Democratic Party
* Waddani
* Kaah Alliance for Equality and Development

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