Our leadership

Abdulkareem Hassan Jama is a Somali politician and scholar with deep experience in politics and state-building.

He is the leader of Xisbiga Ogaal, a political party campaigning to lead Somalia through comprehensive change, so that the Somali people enjoy justice, security, livelihoods, economic growth, good governance and their full rights as citizens.

He has planned for Ogaal to deliver a government built on knowledge, research and reliable data. Abdulkareem is also a candidate in the 2026 election for President of the Federal Republic of Somalia.

Before formally entering party politics, Abdulkareem Hassan Jama held senior positions in the Federal Government, the private sector, and institutions of higher education and research.

He served as Somalia's Minister of Information, Posts and Telecommunications. He was also Director General of the Office of the President and Senior Advisor to the President of Somalia, playing an important role in rebuilding the state and ending Somalia's transitional period.

He is a co-founder of Somalia's largest policy research and analysis institute, where he served for many years as Chairman of the Board. He is also a co-founder of City University of Mogadishu, where he long served in its most senior leadership.

His political vision emphasises a Somalia united through genuine national reconciliation, and a constitution and federal system that everyone accepts. He is a strong believer in citizens' rights, the fight against corruption, the rule of law, expanding economic opportunity, building citizens' capacity, and building transparent state institutions.

In 2010 he was among those who initiated Somalia's application to join the East African Community, and he believes Somalia's future depends on making the most of its strategic geography, the dynamism of Somali entrepreneurs, and economic ties across the region, the continent and global trade.