# List of political parties in Somalia

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. NIEC has registered over 100 political parties, most of which still operate from outside the country for security reasons. 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. 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

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, and established the Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party to advocate a form of scientific socialism inspired by 1960s Soviet Union. 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. 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.
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. On 3 December 2017, the Independent Electoral Commission began registering political parties in Somalia for the first time in 50 years.

## Parties
### Current

As of 2023, the National Independent Electoral Commission (NIEC) has registered a total of 110 parties. 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 |
| 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

| 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. 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. |
| 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

As of May 2020, there are 17 registered political parties in Puntland.
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)

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 |