Somali deputy speaker accuses deputy police chief of fueling unrest in Lower Shabelle region
Somalia’s second deputy speaker of parliament accused senior security officials of involvement in unrest in Lower Shabelle, but a senior police commander denied the allegations and accused the lawmaker of making false claims.
Mogadishu (Somali Report) — Somalia’s second deputy speaker of parliament, Abdullahi Omar Abshirow, has accused senior security officials of involvement in organizing and instigating unrest in Lower Shabelle region, allegations denied by one of the officials named.
Speaking at a news conference Friday in Mogadishu alongside lawmakers and ministers from Lower Shabelle, Abshirow named several people he accused of being linked to insecurity in the region. Among them was Gen. Abdalla Abdalla Mohamed, the second deputy commander of the Somali Police Force.
Abshirow said he and other officials had previously submitted the allegations to the Federal Government of Somalia and the Southwest State administration.
“We have evidence of plans to organize armed forces to operate in Lower Shabelle region,” Abshirow said.
He accused unnamed foreign governments of funding efforts to disrupt security in the region and compared the alleged plan to the way armed groups were organized in Sudan. He did not publicly provide evidence supporting the claims.
Abshirow also said the alleged destabilization could affect Türkiye’s oil exploration activities in the region. Somalia and Türkiye have expanded energy and defense cooperation in recent years, including offshore oil and gas exploration.
Gen. Abdalla Abdalla Mohamed rejected the allegations, saying he was not involved in instigating conflict or instability in Lower Shabelle.
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“I reject the false accusations of MP Abshirow,” Abdalla said in a statement. “I am deeply saddened by the accusations made by MP Abshirow against the people of Lower Shabelle region. It is regrettable that the local people are described as militias, despite the obvious role they play in defending the country and supporting the Somali Federal Government Forces.”
Abdalla said the claims were baseless and politically motivated.
“I also officially deny the baseless allegations that are being made with the wrong motive,” he said.
The police official also accused Abshirow of previously working with al-Shabab and said the lawmaker was now trying to create conflict in the area by turning local communities against him.
“It is unfortunate that those who worked under the Khawarij and used to divide the people and the government are still passionate about their work,” Abdalla said, using the government’s term for al-Shabab.
Lower Shabelle has repeatedly seen armed clashes involving government forces, local militias and clan-based groups. The region is also a major front in the fight against al-Shabab because of its proximity to Mogadishu and its importance as an agricultural and strategic corridor.
The latest public exchange between Abshirow and Abdalla highlights growing political tensions over security management in Lower Shabelle, where disputes among officials and armed groups have at times complicated efforts to stabilize the region.
There was no immediate public response from the federal government or Southwest State authorities on whether they would investigate the competing allegations.
About the Author
Osman Hassan is a Senior Editor at the Somali Report based in Nairobi with over 15 years of experience in journalism. He has worked with local and international media outlets in Somalia and is an award-winning journalist. His reporting focuses on politics, security, and regional affairs in the Horn of Africa.