Federal Government Accused of Politicizing Somali Unity Amid Rising Tensions With Regional States
LAAS CANOOD, Somalia — Accusations are mounting that Somalia’s federal authorities are leveraging the language of national unity as a political weapon against some federal member states, with a planned inauguration in Laas Canood sharpening disputes and stirring fresh security concerns.
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The ceremony, expected to draw senior federal officials including members of the Council of Ministers and security chiefs from the National Intelligence and Security Agency, has been preceded by a push from Villa Somalia to project political and security presence in the city. Multiple observers described the federal mobilization — particularly its messaging around “unity” — as aimed as much at political rivals as at fostering cohesion.
Security personnel identified as federal forces have been brought in from various parts of Puntland State to secure the event, according to sources who spoke to Axadle. The movements have fueled debate over the intent of the deployment and whether it could inflame already strained relations between Mogadishu and regional administrations. “From what is visible, federal leaders are seeking to demonstrate in Laas Canood that Somalia remains unified, but it appears they are using this effort as part of a political confrontation with some of the regional administrations,” said a political analyst who requested anonymity.
The tensions come as President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud enters the final months of his current term — roughly four remain — and faces criticism for failing to convene a broad national dialogue on an electoral framework. Relations between the Federal Government and several member states have deteriorated, complicating efforts to agree on timelines and rules for the next phase of Somalia’s political transition.
In Kismayo, a recent meeting that included representatives from Puntland State, Jubaland and opposition figures issued a communiqué urging the president to call a national consultative meeting by Jan. 20. The statement warned that failure to do so could prompt the groups to convene a conference of their own to avoid what they described as a looming constitutional vacuum. The call underscores the widening mistrust between regional leaders and Mogadishu over decision-making and the balance of power.
Meanwhile, shifting foreign partnerships are adding another layer to domestic politics. The Federal Government has scaled back engagement with the United Arab Emirates, a move sources say has affected development projects at the ports of Bosaso, Kismayo and Berbera. At the same time, federal authorities have entrusted management of Mogadishu’s main port and Aden Adde International Airport to Turkish companies that maintain close ties with the government, reinforcing Ankara’s already deep footprint in Somalia’s security and economic sectors.
Somalia continues to grapple with overlapping security threats and internal political rivalries, even as regional and global geopolitics intrude. Reports circulating that Israel has recognized North Western State of Somalia — which could not be independently verified — have sparked debate over the potential diplomatic and political fallout across the Horn of Africa, and how such a shift might intersect with Somalia’s fragile federal dynamics.
As federal officials press ahead with plans in Laas Canood, the question for many stakeholders is whether a unity-themed show of force will stabilize a volatile landscape or deepen the rifts with key federal member states. With deadlines approaching and trust in short supply, the next weeks will be critical in determining whether political negotiations gain traction — or whether Somalia’s center-periphery standoff hardens further.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
