Somalia's Sufi sect transforms into party, eyes 2026 presidency

One of Somalia's leading Muslim sects has transformed into a political party and plans to contest for presidential elections set for May 2026.

The sect's spiritual leader in Somalia, Abdikadir Moalim Nur, until recently the country's Consul-General in Jeddah, has been nominated to run for president.

Speaking in Mogadishu, the Sufi leader expressed disappointment with the government's failure to fully eliminate the Al Shabaab threat despite having the necessary resources.

Nur said he has served in government since 2009, when then President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed of the Islamic Courts Union led efforts to drive Al Shabaab out of Mogadishu.

In recognition of the sect's role, President Sharif awarded them five ministerial positions in 2010.

Following the election of the current president in 2012, Nur was appointed as a Member of Parliament, and in 2014, he was given a ministerial post.

"We, as Sufi sect members, have been part of the government since 2009," said Nur, adding that they now want to play a direct role in helping eliminate Al Shabaab.

He said over the past six months, Sufi Muslims across Somalia held wide consultations and agreed to form a political party and field a presidential candidate.

"They asked me to be their presidential candidate, and I accepted because I want a to be elected through a democratic process. All my previous roles since 2009 were through nomination," Nur said, voicing support for President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's one person, one vote campaign.

The Sufi leader blamed the government for allowing Al Shabaab to regain a foothold in Mogadishu, saying the group had been driven into the villages as far back as 2010.

He dismissed Al Shabaab as a foreign-influenced group that does not represent true Islam, noting that the Quran does not permit the killing of innocent people.

Nur shared the personal cost of his stance against the militants, revealing that Al Shabaab had killed his 24-year-old son and his sister.

"However, if Al Shabaab recognizes the Somali flag and renounces violence, I would personally invite them to dialogue and help reintegrate them into Somali society," said the Sufi party leader.

However, he warned that if the group rejects the initiative, Somalis will rise up and fight them into submission.