Somalia: There is nothing like Salvation Army, I'll crush them - Lafta-Gareen

BAIDOA, Somalia - Southwest State president Abdiaziz Lafta-Gareen has castigated opposition groups in the state, accusing them of fuelling insurrection against his administration in the region, adding that his government is constitutionally constituted and should not be subjected to intimidations.

Lafta-Gareen, who won the presidency in 2018 after the then federal leader Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo ordered the arrest and incarceration of the current Religious Affairs and Endowment Minister Mukhtar Robow, claimed armed opposition groups have been frequently threatening his administration.

According to him, the group called "Salvation Army of Southwest" is illegally operating, vowing to ensure it is crushed by the regional forces from the outskirts of Baidoa, the regional administrative capital, and other surrounding areas. The group is fighting to topple his government.

“There is nothing called the Salvation of Southwest State, anyone who wants to save Southwest should fight Al-Shabaab which controls the region,” President of Southwest State Abdiasis Laftagaren said while addressing locals as he marked his fourth anniversary as the president of Southwest.

“The parliament has the responsibility for term extension and we will endorse parliament decision when it comes out,” he added while seeking to continue staying in power. A number of regional leaders have recently faced backlash from members of the public while trying to push for term extension.

The President said “an angry person won’t change the direction of our laws and governance”, in an apparent reference to opposition politicians supported by the Somali federal government. Lafta-Gareen has for a long time faced rebellion after he was forcefully imposed on the people of Southwest.

Puntland is also one of the unlikely states where local leaders are opposing the current leadership after it emerged that Said Abdullahi Deni was also intending to extend his term irregularly. Smooth transfer of power in Somalia be it at the state or federal level has been a thorny issue.

Last year, the Somali National Army [SNA] staged a mutiny after former President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo attempted to extend his term with a view of postponing elections. But after push and pull, he would succumb pressure to from former Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble, who conducted presidential elections this year.

GAROWE ONLINE