A political dispute has resurfaced between Northeast Somalia President Abdulkadir Ahmed Aw-Ali Firdhiye and his deputy Abdirashid Yusuf Jibril Abwaan, with tensions reportedly affecting parliament and government operations.
LAASCAANOOD, Somalia — A political dispute has resurfaced within Somalia’s Northeastern State, with tensions reportedly emerging between President Abdulkadir Ahmed Aw-Ali “Firdhiye” and his deputy, Abdirashid Yusuf Jibril “Abwaan,” raising questions over the relationship between the two leaders and the functioning of the regional administration.
Firdhiye and Abwaan were elected president and vice president respectively in August 2025, when the new administration was formally established in Las Anod. Firdhiye won the presidential vote with 62 votes, while Abwaan was subsequently elected vice president by the regional parliament.
The two leaders have since been at the center of the administration’s political affairs, but disagreements between them are now being reported over the exercise of executive powers, consultation between the president and his deputy, and the division of responsibilities within state institutions.
The latest tensions became more visible after Firdhiye returned to Las Anod following a trip to Mogadishu lasting more than 50 days. He received a large welcome from government officials, security officers, traditional elders and members of the public. Abwaan was notably absent from the reception, according to local reports.
The reported disagreement is said to have been linked, among other issues, to the appointment of the commander of the 26th Division of the Somali National Army. Local reports said Abwaan had not been consulted over the appointment of a commander from the Sanaag region, contributing to tensions between the two leaders.
The dispute has also reportedly begun to affect the regional parliament. Members are said to be divided between supporters of the president and those backing the vice president, while parliamentary proceedings have faced delays amid the political disagreement.
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Reports also indicate that lawmakers aligned with Firdhiye are considering measures concerning Abwaan’s parliamentary immunity. Such a move, if pursued, could further deepen the political confrontation and complicate efforts to maintain cooperation between the executive and legislative branches.
The dispute comes just over a year after the two leaders emerged together from the political process that established the Northeastern State. Firdhiye, who had previously served as the leader of the interim SSC-Khatumo administration, was elected the new state’s first president. Abwaan, a former speaker of Puntland’s parliament, became his vice president.
The Northeastern State was established following the political and security developments that followed the 2023 fighting in Las Anod. Its formation was presented as a step toward creating a new federal administration representing communities in Sool, Sanaag and Cayn.
The emerging dispute therefore comes at a sensitive stage for the relatively new administration. Continued disagreement between its top two officials could affect decision-making, parliamentary work and the coordination of government institutions.
For now, neither Firdhiye nor Abwaan has publicly announced a formal political split. But the absence of the vice president from the president’s return ceremony, combined with reported disagreements over appointments and executive authority, has intensified speculation about the future of their working relationship.
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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