Laftagareen Urges AUSSOM to Remain Neutral, Avoid Military Role in Somalia’s growing political crisis
Former South West President Abdiaziz Laftagareen has urged AUSSOM and the African Union to remain neutral amid political tensions with Somalia’s federal government.
MOGADISHU, Somalia — Former South West State president Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen has warned the African Union mission in Somalia against becoming involved in the political dispute between him and Somalia’s federal government, urging the force to maintain neutrality and avoid actions that could deepen tensions.
Laftagareen expressed concern over a statement issued by the African Union Peace and Security Council on Aug. 21, which he said was linked to a request by the federal government concerning the security situation in South West State.
The former regional leader called on the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) to exercise caution and independently verify information before taking any action related to the dispute.
He said Darawish forces supporting him were legitimate security forces tasked with protecting civilians and government institutions, rejecting any characterization of the forces as militias linked to Al-Shabaab without independently verified evidence.
Laftagareen warned that allegations linking the forces to the Al-Qaeda-affiliated militant group could have serious consequences if they were used to justify military action without credible and independently established evidence.
He urged AUSSOM and the African Union to remain impartial and to distinguish between Somalia’s political disputes and legitimate security operations.
The former president also called for greater transparency in the assessment of security claims emerging from South West State, saying military decisions should not be based solely on information provided by one side of a political dispute.
The dispute comes amid wider tensions between Somalia’s federal government and political leaders and regional administrations over governance, elections and the distribution of political and security powers.
Laftagareen said disagreements between the federal government and Somalia’s federal member states should be resolved through dialogue, constitutional mechanisms and an inclusive political process rather than through military pressure.
He warned that using military force to achieve political objectives could trigger further violence and displacement in a country already facing a prolonged security and humanitarian crisis.
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South West State has been at the centre of political tensions in recent months, with disagreements over leadership and the relationship between the regional administration and Mogadishu creating concerns about a possible escalation.
The federal government has repeatedly stressed the need to maintain national security and prevent armed groups from exploiting political divisions.
Al-Shabaab remains one of the main security threats in Somalia and controls or operates in parts of the country, carrying out attacks against government forces, civilians and military installations.
AUSSOM, which replaced the previous African Union Transition Mission in Somalia, is mandated to support Somalia’s security forces and help stabilise areas affected by the insurgency as Somali forces gradually assume greater responsibility for national security.
The mission’s role has become increasingly sensitive as Somalia’s political divisions have intensified and international partners seek to balance support for federal institutions with engagement with regional authorities.
Laftagareen’s warning reflects concerns that international security forces could be drawn into domestic political disputes, potentially undermining their credibility and complicating efforts to address the Al-Shabaab insurgency.
He called on the African Union and AUSSOM to ensure that any military or security-related decisions are based on independently verified intelligence and consistent with their mandate.
He also urged Somali political actors to return to dialogue and seek an agreement that respects constitutional procedures and includes the country’s political stakeholders.
The former South West president said a political settlement remained the best way to prevent further instability and avoid a new wave of violence and displacement in the region.
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.