President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen issued a decree on Monday establishing an Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to oversee election preparations and conduct in the region.
Following a week of announcing severed ties with Somalia’s federal authorities, the Southwest State has advanced in organizing its own elections, indicating growing friction between leaders in Baidoa and Mogadishu.
President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen issued a decree on Monday establishing an Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to oversee election preparations and conduct in the region.
The directive outlined the commission’s structure, appointing a chairperson, deputy chairperson, secretary, and several members tasked with organizing and supervising the electoral process.
The commission’s creation stems from ongoing disputes between Southwest State and the federal government, with disagreements focusing on constitutional amendments and upcoming electoral frameworks.
Southwest State officials have accused federal authorities of interfering in regional governance and security matters, claims that have not met with detailed responses from Mogadishu.
Progressing with an independent electoral body has garnered backing from several federal legislators aligned with the Southwest administration.
Former Speaker Mohamed Mursal Sheikh Abdirahman characterized the measure as essential for the region’s political process.
Mursal stated during a visit to Baidoa, where he joined other lawmakers in demonstrating support for the regional leadership, ‘This represents a legitimate and crucial advancement toward transparent elections.’
A delegation of federal parliamentarians arrived in Baidoa on Sunday, indicating support for the Laftagareen-led administration. The visit occurred amid concerns regarding federal policy directions and their effects on relations with member states.
Among those addressing the gathering was MP Aden Saran-Soor, who cautioned that current federal approaches threaten national unity. He cited previous disagreements between the federal government and other regional administrations, including Jubbaland and Puntland, as examples of recurring tensions within the federal structure.
Saran-Soor declared, ‘The Southwest will not tolerate interference in its internal affairs,’ while urging opposition groups, including the Somali Future Council, to endorse the region’s stance.
Mursal, a delegation member, asserted that the current dispute should be resolved by Southwest State stakeholders rather than through federal institutional intervention. He also expressed concerns about potential deployment of federal forces in political conflicts, warning of possible humanitarian and political repercussions.
The core of the disagreement centers on broader governance and electoral timeline issues, particularly recent constitutional amendments extending federal institution mandates from four to five years. Southwest State leaders have contended that such changes should not be implemented without regional administrative consent.
Laftagareen has recently intensified his criticism of the federal government, accusing it of actions he claims jeopardize regional stability. He alleged that federal authorities were deploying special forces and aircraft to transport troops and allied militias into Southwest territories.
He stated, ‘Over the past two days, there have been blatant and shameless attacks transcending humanity and Somali values.’
He further accused Villa Somalia, the federal government, of sowing community divisions and exerting pressure on local officials aligned with his administration.
Laftagareen declared, ‘Somalia extends beyond Hamar (Mogadishu),’ asserting that federal power and resources are being employed to apply political and security pressure on regional authorities.
