JOWHAR — The Justice and Solidarity Party (JSP) is facing internal questions over the appointment of its representatives in districts across Hirshabelle State, according to sources familiar with discussions within the party.
The appointments, announced on Friday, are understood to form part of JSP’s efforts to expand its organisational structure and political activities across Hirshabelle ahead of upcoming electoral and political developments.
Sources close to the party’s Secretary-General, Hussein Sheikh Mohamud, told Hiiraan News Agency that concerns have emerged over the procedure used to select and appoint the new representatives.
The sources said some party members have questioned whether the appointments were made following the party’s internal procedures and consultation mechanisms. They also raised concerns about the involvement of a particular group in the selection process and alleged that financial considerations may have influenced some of the appointments.
Hiiraan News Agency could not independently verify the allegations regarding payments or determine whether they played a role in the selection of the representatives.
Emergency meeting expected
According to the sources, senior JSP officials are expected to hold an urgent meeting to review the appointments and discuss the process through which they were made.
The meeting is expected to consider whether the appointments comply with the party’s internal regulations and whether further consultations are required before the representatives formally take up their positions.
Sources said the possibility of reviewing, changing or withdrawing some of the appointments could also be discussed.
However, there has been no official announcement from JSP confirming that the representatives will be removed or that the appointments have been cancelled.
JSP has been expanding its political presence in Hirshabelle in recent months. In April, the party opened a new office in Jowhar, the capital of Hirshabelle, as part of efforts to strengthen its activities in the state.
The party’s activities in Hirshabelle come amid preparations for Somalia’s wider electoral process and increasing political competition ahead of upcoming state-level and national political contests.
Political significance
The dispute over the appointments highlights the challenges political parties can face as they build grassroots structures in Somalia’s federal member states.
The JSP has been active across several states and has already selected candidates for upcoming regional contests. Its Secretary-General, Hussein Sheikh Mohamud, has chaired senior party meetings concerning electoral preparations, including the selection of candidates for state-level elections.
In Hirshabelle, the party has also received public political support from state officials, while President Ali Abdullahi Hussein Guudlaawe has previously said the state is open to political parties operating in the region.
The latest internal questions are therefore significant for JSP’s efforts to establish a functioning party network throughout Hirshabelle.
For now, the appointments remain in place unless the party leadership takes a formal decision to amend or withdraw them.
