Laftagareen Rejects Mogadishu Parliamentary Election as South West Crisis Deepens
Former South West President Abdiaziz Laftagareen has rejected the parliamentary election in Mogadishu, saying his administration does not recognize the process or anyone representing South West State.
MOGADISHU (Somali Report) — Former South West State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen has rejected the ongoing parliamentary electoral process in Mogadishu, saying his administration is not participating in the election and does not recognize anyone as its representative in the process.
In a written statement, Laftagareen addressed what he described as sensitive political developments surrounding the election of a new Speaker of Somalia’s House of the People, as well as the broader political situation in South West State.
Laftagareen, who continues to claim that he is the legitimate president of South West State, said his administration has no involvement in the election being held in Mogadishu to fill the parliamentary seat previously held by Sheikh Adan Mohamed Nur Madobe.
He further said that there is no individual or group representing his administration in the electoral process, even if lawmakers from South West State are taking part.
“The South West State government makes clear that it is not part of the illegal election being conducted by Hassan Sheikh in Mogadishu. We are not part of it, we do not recognize it, and we have no representative participating on our behalf,” Laftagareen said.
His statement represents another escalation in the political dispute between his camp and Somalia’s Federal Government, which has intensified following the political crisis surrounding the leadership of South West State.
Laftagareen, who is currently outside Somalia, also said his administration remains committed to what he described as efforts to “liberate” South West State and restore what he called legitimate state authority.
He said operations would continue in areas around Baidoa, the administrative capital of Bay Region, where tensions have remained high between forces aligned with different political camps.
“The responsibility of the South West State government is to defend its sovereignty and freedom and to restore the statehood of South West State,” Laftagareen said.
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Meanwhile, Ugaas Hassan Abdi Mohamed, a spokesperson for Laftagareen, held a separate press conference in which he explained the position of their political camp.
The spokesperson went further by saying that Laftagareen’s administration does not recognize the current Somali Parliament, arguing that its constitutional mandate has expired.
“The South West State government does not recognize the Somali Parliament that currently exists in Somalia because its term has expired,” the spokesperson said.
The statements come as Mogadishu prepares for the election of a new Speaker of the House of the People. The position became vacant after Sheikh Adan Mohamed Nur Madobe left the speakership.
One of the leading candidates is MP Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur Jama, Somalia’s Minister of Ports and Marine Transport. He is also reported to have significant political support from Villa Somalia.
The parliamentary contest is taking place against a broader backdrop of political disagreements over Somalia’s electoral process, constitutional arrangements and relations between the Federal Government and regional administrations.
Laftagareen’s continued claims to the South West presidency have added another dimension to the dispute. While his political camp maintains that it represents the legitimate South West administration, the Federal Government and other political actors have continued to recognize the existing regional political structures in Baidoa.
The disagreement also comes as security tensions remain a concern around Baidoa, with competing political positions raising fears that the dispute could develop into further confrontation.
Laftagareen’s latest statement therefore places his camp firmly outside the current parliamentary process in Mogadishu and signals that the political confrontation over the future leadership and institutional legitimacy of South West State is far from resolved.
About the Author
Bashir Guhad is a reporter at Somali Report covering politics, security, business, and trade across the Somali region.