MOGADISHU — The Prime Minister of Somalia’s Federal Government, Hamza Abdi Barre, has officially appointed his deputy, Jibril Abdirashid, as the interim head of Southwest State. The emergency appointment comes just days after former regional president Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed (Laftagareen) was removed in a sweeping federal military operation that was reportedly supported by Turkish drones.
A Calculated Political Maneuver
According to the official decree, Second Deputy Prime Minister Abdirashid will temporarily oversee the regional administration starting April 1. His selection appears to be a highly calculated political decision by the central government.
Mr. Abdirashid belongs to the Digil sub-clan of the broader Digil and Mirifle clan family, which primarily resides in the Southwest region. As various fierce supporters of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud actively vie for the permanent regional leadership, Mr. Abdirashid is considered a relatively neutral, stabilizing option. He is viewed as having limited personal interest in holding the permanent role, and notably, he is not from the Mirifle sub-clan that has traditionally dominated this specific office.
The Prime Minister’s office stated that this interim administration will concentrate on maintaining core government functions and preserving political stability. Crucially, Abdirashid is tasked with advancing grassroots consultations regarding the constitutional transition framework and the federal government’s planned nationwide ‘one-person, one-vote’ (1P1V) electoral system.
Worsening Security and Retaliation in Baidoa
Despite these administrative goals, the appointment arrives at a time of severe and increasing tension as the federal government struggles to control instability following the sudden leadership vacuum. This stark reality contrasts sharply with earlier reports of calm returning to the interim capital as federal delegations arrived.
Recent videos emerging from Baidoa show extensive, unchecked looting across the city, indicating a rapidly worsening security situation on the ground. Furthermore, deeply concerning reports have surfaced indicating that federal soldiers who entered the city have killed several former regional security personnel in apparent acts of retaliation.
These reported extrajudicial killings completely contradict earlier public assurances from federal officials that amnesties would be honored and no retaliatory actions would take place following Laftagareen’s negotiated resignation and departure to Kenya. The deteriorating conditions risk validating recent UN warnings regarding the devastating civilian impact of escalating political violence in the region.
