Somalia’s South West State president condemns illegal checkpoints after traveler killed over $2

BAIDOA, Somalia — South West State President Abdiasis Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen has condemned the spread of illegal checkpoints across the region, calling them a major threat to civilian movement and safety and urging communities to back justice and stabilization efforts.

Laftagareen said armed individuals obstructing travelers on public roads is “unacceptable,” especially as South West State navigates severe drought and recurring conflict that continue to disrupt livelihoods and strain security.

“It is unacceptable to stop travelers on the road. Yesterday, I heard the sad news that a traveler was killed in his car for just two dollars. Fortunately, the perpetrator has been arrested and justice will be brought to him,” Laftagareen said in remarks delivered in Baidoa.

The president did not provide additional details about the location of the killing or the number of checkpoints, but his comments point to the persistent risk posed by unauthorized armed groups taxing or harassing civilians on key routes linking towns and rural areas. Such informal roadblocks can block access to markets, health care and humanitarian assistance, compounding hardships for families already facing drought and displacement.

Laftagareen appealed for unity and the rule of law, framing justice as the foundation of regional stability. “The only thing we have is justice, which is the only thing that can fix everything. If there is no justice, everything will fall apart,” he said.

His remarks come amid rising tensions and deadly clan revenge attacks in parts of South West State, including recent incidents in which people were burned alive. Local leaders and security officials have struggled to contain cycles of retaliation that can flare quickly, particularly in areas where access to courts, policing and mediation is limited or contested.

Illegal checkpoints have long been a flashpoint in Somalia, where state authorities, federal member states and security partners work to extend legitimate governance and protect vital corridors from criminal and insurgent activity. In South West State, roads feeding Baidoa and other hubs serve as lifelines for trade and aid deliveries, making safe passage a recurring demand from residents and aid groups.

Laftagareen’s vow to bring the alleged killer to justice, and his broader denunciation of roadblock shakedowns, signals renewed attention to civilian protection. It also places responsibility on communities under his administration to cooperate with security efforts aimed at dismantling illegal checkpoints and resolving clan disputes before they escalate.

While details of any new enforcement measures were not announced, the president’s warning underscores a central test for authorities: converting tough talk into consistent, credible law enforcement that curbs extortion on the roads and breaks the cycle of revenge attacks. In the near term, residents and travelers will look for visible steps—removal of unauthorized barriers, arrests of perpetrators and rapid adjudication of cases—to restore confidence in the rule of law.

Laftagareen’s call arrives as humanitarian needs remain high. Drought and conflict have displaced families across the region, and any disruption to road access can delay lifesaving assistance. Rights advocates and community elders have urged the administration to pair security operations with mediation and local reconciliation to de-escalate tensions and keep civilians out of harm’s way.

If sustained, a crackdown on illegal checkpoints combined with community-led justice initiatives could reduce the number of confrontations along major routes and allow markets and aid convoys to operate with fewer interruptions. For now, the arrest in the $2 killing case and the president’s public remarks set expectations that the state will act—swiftly and visibly—against those threatening civilians on South West State’s roads.

By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.