President Mohamud meets Southwest elders in Baidoa to advance reconciliation

Sunday April 5, 2026

Baidoa (AX) — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud met Sunday with traditional elders in Baidoa, stepping into the center of a delicate push to calm tensions and reinforce governance in Southwest State after recent political unrest.

According to Villa Somalia, the talks centered on community reconciliation, support for Somalia’s democratization drive, the worsening drought and wider state-building efforts.

The meeting comes days after federal authorities assumed control of Baidoa and installed an interim administration, moves that have sparked political debate over federal authority and constitutional procedures.

President Mohamud commended the elders for their enduring role in holding communities together and settling disputes, saying customary leadership remains indispensable to Somalia’s stability.

“Traditional elders have always been the foundation of unity and reconciliation in our society,” the president said, stressing that lasting peace depends on continued cooperation between formal state institutions and customary authorities.

He said stronger coordination between government officials and local leaders is vital to improving public services, tightening security and advancing plans for one-person, one-vote elections.

The elders welcomed the president’s visit and voiced support for reconciliation and development efforts in Southwest State. They reaffirmed their backing for dialogue, reduced tensions and national governance reforms.

Southwest State has been unsettled in recent weeks by leadership changes and clashes between federal and regional forces. Federal authorities have described their intervention as necessary to restore stability and push democratic reforms, while critics say it raises constitutional questions.