Political Tensions Escalate in Somalia as Federal Government & South West State Reportedly Mobilize Forces
Political Tensions Escalate in Somalia as Federal Government & South West State Reportedly Mobilize Forces
Somalia's federal government has sent hundreds of elite special police units by air from Mogadishu to Barawe, the main administrative center of South West State in Lower Shabelle region, local media reported on Thursday.
The goal is to increase federal control from Barawe toward Burhakaba district in Bay region, where local opposition militias have recently gathered and mobilized, according to reports.
Key developments:
▪South West State severed all ties with Mogadishu on Tuesday, accusing President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's administration of arming militias to unseat President Abdiaziz Laftagareen and destabilizing the region—claims denied by federal officials.
▪The federal government condemned the suspension of cooperation and urged dialogue and reconciliation to protect national unity.
▪On Tuesday, Laftagareen announced his resignation from Somalia's ruling Justice and Solidarity Party.
▪The state has stopped all commercial and private flights to and from its airports starting Wednesday, and only UN and AUSSOM flights are allowed, Somali media reported citing the South West State Ministry of Transport.
▪Former President Farmaajo said that while incumbent President Mohamud’s term ends on May 15, “he needs broad consensus and a political agreement to prevent a political and constitutional vacuum.”
▪The rift stems from constitutional amendments ratified in early March (extending presidential and parliamentary terms from 4 to 5 years, shifting to direct citizen election of lawmakers while keeping presidential election by parliament, and centralizing more power at the federal level), rejected by South West.
The video shows an official announcement of the South West State administration's decision to suspend all cooperation with the Federal Government of Somalia
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