Somali Minister Warns Regional President Over Support for Ethiopian Forces

In a recent address, Laftagareen drew a poignant comparison between 25 MPs who side with the South West State populace and the iconic Somali Youth League (SYL) heroes. “Those MPs standing with their people’s will are reminiscent of the 13 SYL members,” he noted. As a foundational political entity in Somalia, the SYL spearheaded the independence movement during the mid-20th century, laying down a legacy from 1940s through the 1960s.

Emphasizing the weighty duty of Somali leaders to the future generations, the defence minister highlighted the indispensable need to cherish and protect the collective vision of a united and autonomous Somalia enriched with secured assets. “Slack in any other area might be tolerated, but our sacred obligation is to scrupulously uphold the trust our forebears bestowed upon us. No one is privy to misuse the ethos of independence, unity, or Somali national interests,” he asserted.

Despite Laftagareen’s parallelism to the SYL, Abdulkadir underscored the group’s undying significance to Somali nationalism. He cautioned the MPs from South West State of the gravity their positions hold. “The SYL symbolizes liberty, defiance against injustice, and a noteworthy lineage that demands preservation. I call on MPs and South West State politicians to acknowledge the distinguished past their seats represent and to ensure its protection,” Abdulkadir appealed.

This admonition unfolds amid the Federal Government of Somalia’s ongoing efforts to expel Ethiopian forces from their soil. Tensions between the two nations have escalated since Ethiopia inked an understanding with Somaliland—a self-declared independent region—to lease their port for a prolonged half-century tenure, a move Somalia contests as unlawful, insisting on Somaliland’s inclusion within its domain.