Somalia: President seeks to consolidate control in Southwest amid leadership contest

BAIDOA, Somalia — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has concluded a multi-day mission to Baidoa to consolidate his political allies and oversee a volatile transition following the federal government's military takeover of the South West State capital.

The president’s arrival followed the March 29 resignation of regional leader Abdiasis Laftagareen, who fled to Kenya after heavily armed Somali National Army (SNA) troops and allied clan militias seized control of the city.

The intervention has triggered an intense succession race among Mohamud’s inner circle. Contenders for the regional presidency include federal parliamentary speaker Adan Mohamed Nur, Minister of Ports Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, and Minister of Livestock Hassan Elay. Analysts say the outcome will likely hinge on the president’s personal endorsement as he seeks to tighten federal control over the semi-autonomous region.

To formalize the transition, the National Electoral Commission has scheduled parliamentary and district council elections for April 28.

"These elections are an important step in ensuring public participation and the development of democracy in the Southwest," Commission Chairperson Abdikarin Hassan said, confirming the polls will utilize a direct "one-person, one-vote" system.

However, the federal consolidation has faced allegations of extrajudicial violence. Mahad Abdirahman, the recently ousted regional security chief, alleged that two civilians were killed and their bodies burned during the takeover. While Garowe Online could not independently verify the claims, Abdirahman warned that 2,000 loyalist troops remain in a defensive posture in nearby Awdinle.

During a final security summit with top brass from the police and intelligence services, Mohamud stressed the need for tactical unity to prevent the Al-Qaeda-linked insurgent group Al-Shabaab from exploiting the political flux.

The scheduled April polls represent a high-stakes gamble for the federal government. If successful, they would mark a rare transition from negotiated power-sharing to direct suffrage in one of Somalia’s most strategically vital regions.

GAROWE ONLINE