Former Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has blamed the federal government for the deadly fighting in Baidoa, accusing it of mishandling political changes in South West State and warning that elections without political agreement could deepen the crisis.
MOGADISHU, Somalia (Somali Report) — Former Somali president Sheikh Sharif has strongly condemned deadly fighting in Baidoa, the interim administrative capital of South West state, blaming the federal government for mishandling political changes that he said had pushed the city into crisis.
Fighting erupted in Baidoa on Monday between Somali government forces and fighters loyal to former South West state president Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen. The clashes have left at least 30 people dead and deepened political tensions in a country already struggling to reach consensus over elections and the distribution of political power.
Sharif, who served as president of Somalia from 2009 to 2012, described the repeated violence in Baidoa as deeply regrettable and offered condolences to the families of those killed. He also wished a speedy recovery to those wounded in the fighting.
“People have died in Baidoa, people have been displaced, and others have been wounded. Who bears responsibility for what is happening? The responsibility lies with the government,” Sharif said.
He argued that any political transition in South West state should have been based on an agreement accepted by the people and political stakeholders rather than being imposed through confrontation.
“If a change was needed, it could have been made through an agreement that people accepted,” he said.
Sharif also criticised what he described as the federal government's failure to respond adequately to the political tensions in South West state, warning that remaining silent while civilians suffer was unacceptable.
“It is inhumane for us to simply watch the people of South West and remain silent. You know that we had warned about this,” he said.
The former president's remarks come as Somalia faces a broader political dispute over its electoral process. Federal authorities have been pursuing plans for elections, but disagreements remain between the government, opposition figures and some federal member states over the rules, timing and credibility of the process.
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Sharif said no political agreement had yet been reached that could satisfy all sides, arguing that elections could not succeed without broad political consensus.
“The beauty of an election is an agreement. If there is no agreement, whatever election is announced has no meaning,” he said.
He also accused the federal government of treating political actors and regional administrations unevenly, particularly in its approach to organising elections in parts of the country.
Sharif questioned the credibility of electoral processes in Somalia, recalling allegations of vote-buying during previous elections.
“How many votes were being bought the last time? Fifty dollars. Wasn't that money being taken to those people?” he said.
The remarks underline the growing concern among Somali political figures that disagreements over elections could further destabilise relations between Mogadishu and federal member states.
Baidoa, a key political and security centre in southwestern Somalia, has repeatedly been caught up in disputes between federal authorities and South West state leaders. Monday's fighting has raised fresh fears that political disagreements could spill over into further violence and displacement.
Sheikh Sharif's comments add to calls for dialogue and a negotiated political settlement as Somalia attempts to navigate its electoral transition while facing persistent security challenges.
About the Author
Ahmed Omar is a senior journalist for Somali Report, based in Mogadishu. He has two decades of experience reporting on Somalia for international and local media. He covers politics, security, governance, business, trade, economic developments and regional affairs.
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