Somalia declares South West State leadership mandate expired amid rising tensions
In a statement, the Interior Ministry said the central government will no longer recognise any appointments or dismissals issued by the current South West State administration.
Tuesday March 24, 2026
Somalia’s federal authorities have thrown South West State’s leadership into fresh uncertainty, declaring late Sunday that the president and his administration have reached the end of their mandate as a bitter standoff with Baidoa deepens.
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In a statement, the Interior Ministry said the central government will no longer recognise any appointments or dismissals issued by the current South West State administration.
It said local administrations in South West State will continue their duties until new councils are elected, and the government is in consultation with traditional elders to prevent instability.
“The Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation of the Federal Government of Somalia, together with traditional elders of South West State, is specifically responsible for managing this process,” the statement said.
Political gridlock
The confrontation between Mogadishu and South West State’s interim capital, Baidoa, has intensified in recent weeks, particularly after both chambers of the federal parliament voted earlier this month to overhaul the national constitution — a move framed as ending decades of transitional rule.
South West State has rejected the newly approved amendments to the Somali provisional constitution.
Officials in Mogadishu contend that South West State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen has remained in office beyond his legal term and is therefore governing without legitimacy. South West State officials and their supporters, however, cast the federal government’s actions as unlawful interference and an overreach into state affairs.
Against that backdrop, South West State on Thursday halted all commercial and private flights to and from its airports, citing security concerns.
Authorities said only United Nations and African Union flights will be permitted, restricted to humanitarian, medical and official missions, and they will be barred from carrying political figures without approval.