By Samuel Ouma
MOGADISHU – Veteran politician and academic Abdikarim Hassan Jama has formally entered Somalia’s presidential race, a move that political observers say could reshape the upcoming election.
Jama, who hails from the country’s northern regions, has built a cross-cutting coalition of support spanning both the north and south, positioning him as a potential unifying figure.
He previously served as Minister of Information, Posts, and Telecommunications, as well as Chief of Staff and senior adviser to the president. He is also a founding member of the Heritage Institute for Policy Studies (HIPS), Somalia’s largest independent think tank, and the executive founder of one of Mogadishu’s leading universities.
The presidential election is scheduled for May 15, 2026, with 329 parliamentarians set to elect Somalia’s 11th president, the vote may be delayed.
Incumbent President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who is seeking re-election, is reportedly pushing for an extension under the guise of switching to a popular vote. Critics call the move unilateral and unworkable without the consent of all political stakeholders, viewing it as an attempt by the president to secure victory.
Jama’s entry into the race backed by strong support from both northern and southern Somalia is expected to alter the contest’s dynamics, regardless of whether the election proceeds as planned or is postponed.
