Ousted Southwest State Leader Reemerges in Kenya to Rally Political Allies

NAIROBI, Kenya — The former president of Somalia’s Southwest State, Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed, popularly known as Lafta-Gareen, made a prominent public reappearance in the Kenyan capital Saturday, hosting a high-profile luncheon for political loyalists nearly a month after his resignation.

The event, held in Nairobi, brought together federal lawmakers, influential politicians, and close associates who supported him during a bruising power struggle with the federal government at Villa Somalia. Among the key figures in attendance was Mohamed Mursal, the former Speaker of the House of the People, who traveled with the former regional leader from Baidoa.

In a statement shared via his official Facebook page, Lafta-Gareen expressed deep gratitude to his supporters, specifically praising regional ministers who resigned from their posts in a show of solidarity before his administration eventually collapsed. He characterized their actions as a testament to shared principles and a shared political vision.

During the gathering, the former regional leader signaled that his departure from office was not an exit from politics. He pledged to his allies that their political partnership would remain intact and announced that they would move forward as a unified bloc in upcoming election campaigns.

The reemergence of the former regional heavyweight in Kenya comes at a critical juncture as Somalia faces a deepening constitutional vacuum and a persistent standoff over the framework for federal elections. Analysts view the move as a strategic effort to consolidate his political base from abroad and position himself as a significant power broker in the looming national transition.

By maintaining a unified front with influential figures like Mursal, Lafta-Gareen appears to be signaling that he intends to remain a central player in the country’s turbulent political landscape, despite no longer holding regional executive power.

GAROWE ONLINE