Somalia moves to form federal-aligned administration in Awdal, escalating rift with North Western State of Somalia
MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s federal government is advancing plans to establish a new administration in the northwestern Awdal region under direct central authority, a step that has sharpened political tensions with North Western State of Somalia and stirred concern among regional leaders.
- Advertisement -
Defense Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi said the proposal remains in development and is being shaped through consultations with multiple stakeholders, including international partners. Speaking in Las Anod, Fiqi said the process would follow legal and political frameworks similar to those used to form existing federal member states.
The initiative has drawn swift scrutiny across Somalia’s federal landscape. Several regional administrations warn the move could ignite new security and political challenges in a volatile area where competing claims, clan dynamics and unresolved governance questions have long complicated peacebuilding. North Western State of Somalia, which claims independence but lacks international recognition, views the federal plan as a direct challenge to its authority over the territory.
While the federal government has not released a detailed roadmap, the shape of the proposed administration — and how it would integrate security, local governance and fiscal systems — is emerging as a central question. The plan’s supporters frame it as part of a broader effort to complete Somalia’s federal map and bring disputed areas into a unified constitutional order. Critics caution that rushing the process, or imposing structures without broad consensus, risks deepening fractures and undermining recent gains in stabilization.
Strategic geography is intensifying the stakes. Attention has narrowed on the port city of Zeila, a coastal hub on the Gulf of Aden. Analysts say Zeila’s position along key maritime routes has attracted interest from multiple foreign actors looking to secure influence over Red Sea shipping lanes, adding geopolitical weight to what might otherwise be a domestic governance dispute.
The Awdal question also reverberates beyond North Western State of Somalia’s claim. Any attempt by Mogadishu to formalize a federal-aligned authority in territory North Western State of Somalia administers would likely complicate already strained relations and could test the cohesion of Somalia’s federal system. It also risks creating overlapping jurisdictions that sow confusion over security command, tax collection and service delivery.
For now, federal officials say the plan remains in a consultative phase, with discussions ongoing among political leaders, local stakeholders and international partners. No timeline has been announced for rolling out the new administration or for clarifying the scope of its mandate.
The debate underscores a broader tug-of-war over sovereignty, federalism and recognition in the Horn of Africa. With Zeila’s port in the spotlight and Awdal’s governance unsettled, the coming weeks will likely determine whether negotiations can reduce tensions — or whether a procedural state-building effort becomes a flashpoint in a contested and strategically sensitive region.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
