BAIDOA (KAAB TV) – Somalia’s Southwest State President Abdiasis Hassan Mohamed (Laftagareen) has condemned inciteful remarks and threats made by clans supporting President Hasan Sheikh Mohamud’s government in Mogadishu.
He declared that Southwest State will determine its future and security independently.
“During my absence, there were offensive remarks and inflammatory statements targeting the people of Southwest State, which pose a challenge to Somalia’s statehood,” he said while addressing his supporters at the airport in Baydhabo on Monday after his return from a trip to Kenya and Turkey.
“This is shameful and a challenge to Somali statehood, Somali unity, and the federalism being implemented, which is meant to thrive,” he added.
His comments were a response to elders from the Hawiye clans who recently threatened to target the homes of Southwest State MPs who supported protesters in the Bakool region advocating for the presence of Ethiopian troops in the Southwest.
President Laftagareen endorsed the protests in Bakool supporting the presence of Ethiopian forces in Somalia and opposed the Egyptian forces’ planned deployment.
“The people of Southwest State expressed their views. They voiced their sentiments and communicated with the government. It is unfortunate that their views are being labelled as a shame,” Laftagareen said.
He praised 25 lawmakers from Southwest State – hailing from Digil and Mirifle clans – who recently opposed the deployment of Egyptian troops in Somalia, warning of the potential conflict between Ethiopia and Egypt being sparked from within Somalia.
“Previously, you heard about 13 MPs from SYL; today we have 25 MPs who are our SYL,” he said.
He stated that Southwest State stands by these MPs, firmly asserting that no one can strip them of their immunity.
“You carry immunity granted by the people. No other clan can take it away from you,” he said, responding to calls to revoke the immunity of the 25 MPs from Southwest State.
The President of Southwest State, whose relationship with President Hasan Sheikh’s administration in Mogadishu seems to be deteriorating, criticized what he termed “false nationalism being promoted.”
Southwest State Future
The President of Southwest State called for a consultative meeting for the people of Southwest State, which he said will be organized soon to determine “the future and the security of Southwest State”.
“We will take our security responsibility for ourselves, and decide our future,” he said.
“Unity and Somali identity are what we hold dear; if rejected, we will separate. There is no one without a clan affiliation,” President Laftagareen said.
Southwest State is expected to hold its elections independently, not waiting for the federal government, which has pressured regional administrations to delay their elections past their deadlines, except Puntland, which held its election early this year.
The conflict between the Somali federal government and federal member states has intensified, with Jubbaland recently rejecting the federal joint election process and President Ahmed Madobe making amendments to the Jubbaland constitution to allow himself to run for office as many times as he wishes.
Puntland also distanced itself from the federal government in March of this year, withdrawing recognition of President Hasan Sheikh.