MOGADISHU — A coalition of Somali regional states and prominent political leaders has officially thrown its support behind Southwest State President Abdiaziz Laftagareen, further isolating the federal government amid a rapidly deepening constitutional crisis.
Regional Alliance Rejects Federal Mandates
The Somali Future Council—a powerful political alliance comprising the regional governments of Jubbaland and Puntland, alongside the Salvation Forum—issued a formal public statement directly endorsing Laftagareen’s recent challenge to the central government’s authority. The council declared complete support for Southwest State’s decision to conduct independent, “free and fair” regional elections, demonstrating a robust and united front against Mogadishu’s proposed electoral framework.
This high-level endorsement follows a significant escalation in tensions between President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s federal administration and the Southwest State. As recently reported, the federal government officially declared Laftagareen’s mandate expired, triggering fierce regional pushback. The core dispute centers on several contentious issues, including federal constitutional amendments passed without regional consensus and the central government’s push for a “one-person, one-vote” system—a model that regional states deem currently impractical and a unilateral mechanism for consolidating federal power.
Warnings of Fragmentation and Military Misuse
Expressing serious concern over the deteriorating political situation, the Somali Future Council emphasized that all governance matters must be resolved strictly according to the provisional constitution to maintain national stability and public confidence. In a direct appeal to other regional administrations, the council urgently requested Galmudug and Hirshabelle to refrain from actions that could intensify the standoff, highlighting that national unity is severely jeopardized if the federal system continues to fragment.
Echoing its previous warnings regarding election delays and political instability, the statement concluded with a stern message to President Mohamud. The council explicitly accused his administration of employing the Somali National Army for narrow political objectives, warning that such tactics critically endanger years of hard-won progress in rebuilding Somalia’s security institutions and risk reigniting widespread internal conflict.
