Somalia: Federal Government Declares Southwest State President’s Mandate Expired

Somalia: Federal Government Declares Mandate of Southwest State President Expired

Somalia: Federal Government Declares Mandate of Southwest State President Expired

MOGADISHU, Somalia — The federal government on Sunday intensified a simmering dispute with Southwest State, announcing that the regional leadership’s tenure has lapsed and that a handover process will begin immediately.

In a formal statement, the Federal Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation declared that President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed, widely known as Laftagareen, no longer has a legitimate mandate. The ministry said it has been assigned to manage the selection of new leadership to avert any power vacuum in Somalia.

The announcement underscores a major rupture in relations between Mogadishu and its federal member states. Federal authorities framed the decision as essential to safeguarding constitutional timelines, while allies of the Southwest administration have previously warned that federal intervention in regional mandates would amount to an illegal overreach.

The Southwest presidency has not yet issued an official reply, but the heated exchanges are fueling fears of unrest in an area pivotal to operations against Al-Shabaab militants.

Following established procedures, federal officials said they will consult local stakeholders to set up a mechanism for filling the now-vacant offices, though no dates have been provided for a vote or for naming a selection committee.

Separately, Southwest State is preparing an indirect vote to choose a new regional parliament, which would then elect a president. The plan follows the state’s decision to suspend cooperation with the Somali government, accusing it of meddling in internal affairs.

AXADLETM