Laftagareen says he is legitimate South West president, plans Baidoa return

Sunday May 3, 2026

Nairobi (AX) — Former South West State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen has declared that he still holds the legitimate mandate to lead the administration, saying he expects to return to the region after President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s term ends on May 15, 2026.

In an interview in Nairobi this week — his first public comments since March 30 — Laftagareen spoke at length about the political standoff in South West State and the circumstances surrounding his departure from Baidoa.

Laftagareen said he was both lawfully elected and re-elected on March 28, arguing that his authority remains intact.

“As you know, I am the legitimate President of the South West, and I was legally elected,” he said. “I was re-elected on March 28, so I am the President of the South West.”

He said he plans to go back to the region 13 days after the federal president’s mandate expires, a timeline that could deepen the already fraught political contest.

Laftagareen also rejected reports that he wrote the resignation letter that circulated on his social media accounts before he left for Nairobi, where he is now staying. He said the message was issued under pressure, insisting the decision to leave was driven by concerns for his safety and that of General Mahad Abdirahman, the former custodial corps chief who was placed under house arrest in Mogadishu before later being released without charge.

Describing his exit from Baidoa, Laftagareen said he had faced persistent military pressure for nearly two months, calling it a “direct and overwhelming intervention.” He alleged that federal forces committed substantial resources to the operation, including military vehicles and aircraft, and entered the city along an unexpected route after conducting aerial surveillance of South West defense positions.

According to Laftagareen, he instructed his forces not to open fire in order to prevent civilian casualties in Baidoa, a city he said has a population of more than one million.

“What was targeted was not just me, but the South West administration,” he said, accusing federal authorities of eroding regional autonomy.

He urged South West State residents to stay patient, saying he believes “better days are coming” and that efforts to reclaim leadership politically will continue.

The comments come as Somalia’s national electoral authorities prepare for South West State elections. Opposition figures have accused the federal government of interfering in the regional electoral process, saying the vote should be handled by the state’s own institutions.