Somali Southwest parliament speaker accuses federal government of diverting Egyptian weapons

Monday March 23, 2026

Baidoa (AX) — A fresh accusation from Baidoa is intensifying a growing rift with Mogadishu, as the speaker of Southwest State’s parliament claims the federal government is diverting Egyptian-supplied weapons—intended for national defense—into a volatile local power struggle in the Southwest region.

In a post on X dated March 21, 2026, Dr. Ali Said Fiqi alleged that rifles provided by Egypt to help Somalia battle al-Shabab are instead being distributed to militias in the Burhakaba district.

“These rifles were initially provided by the Egyptian government to support Somalia’s national security and to help protect the country from its real enemies. They were never meant to be used in internal disputes or turned against Somali citizens,” Fiqi wrote.

“Unfortunately, they are now being handed to militias in Burhakaba and used against the people of Southwest State. This goes against the very purpose for which they were provided.”

Fiqi also said he had received what he described as “deeply troubling reports” that weapons were being flown in by aircraft for use against Southwest authorities, calling the situation “painful and unsettling.”

“When weapons meant to defend the nation are used in this way, it only fuels tension, widens divisions, and puts innocent lives at risk,” he added.

Hiiraan Online could not independently verify the images shared by the speaker or confirm whether the weapons he referenced were part of Egyptian military assistance.

Egypt has been among the countries supplying arms to Somalia in recent years as part of efforts to strengthen operations against al-Shabab, especially after the United Nations lifted the Somali government’s decades-long arms embargo. Egyptian troops are also expected to deploy to Somalia under the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).

Fiqi’s claims surface as reports indicate federal forces and equipment have been deployed to Burhakaba, where federal ministers recently traveled to oversee military preparations. The federal government has not publicly responded to the speaker’s allegations.

Southwest President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen on Saturday presided over the graduation of newly trained regional forces in Baidoa and echoed similar concerns, alleging that weapons acquired after the arms embargo was lifted had been redirected to undermine his administration.

The dispute is playing out amid a widening political confrontation over regional elections and constitutional amendments. Federal lawmakers recently passed changes extending the mandate of federal institutions from four to five years, a step critics say has deepened mistrust between Mogadishu and several federal member states.