Sunday April 20, 2025

Sultan Abdirahman Qani Qorane (center), founder of the newly launched Gobonnimo (Sovereignty) Party, speaks during the party’s inaugural press conference in Mogadishu. The former cleric blasted the federal government’s handling of security and governance, pledging to offer a reformist alternative.

Mogadishu (HOL) — Sultan Abdirahman Qani Qorane, a former Islamic cleric known for opposing extremist ideologies, launched the Gobonnimo (Sovereignty) Party this week in Mogadishu, presenting it as a reformist alternative to Somalia’s federal government.

Qorane used the launch event to sharply criticize the government’s failure to secure the country and uphold national sovereignty. “Somalis deserve a government that safeguards its citizens and defends our independence—not one that bows to internal dysfunction and foreign influence,” he said.

The party’s platform centers on three pillars: improved governance, strengthened national sovereignty, and accountability. The launch comes as Somalia grapples with an entrenched insurgency, worsening political fragmentation, and concerns about external interference in its domestic affairs.

Qorane rose to prominence in recent years as a leading voice countering extremist narratives pushed by Al-Shabaab and ISIS. His shift from religious advocacy to political activism signals a broader trend in Somalia, where public frustration with traditional political elites is creating space for alternative actors from civil society, religious institutions, and academia.

Gobonnimo could resonate with younger Somalis and voters disillusioned by longstanding federal failures—if it can deliver a practical roadmap for reform. However, the political environment remains challenging for new movements. Entrenched patronage networks, fragmented power structures, and fragile security conditions continue to undermine democratic participation.