Former Somali intelligence chief Fahad Yasin has accused President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of risking a political crisis similar to Sudan’s, warning of the possibility of rival governments and armed forces amid escalating election disputes.
MOGADISHU (Somali Report) — Former Somali intelligence chief Fahad Yasin has accused President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of pushing Somalia towards a political and security crisis resembling Sudan’s conflict, warning that the country could end up with rival presidents, governments and armed forces.
In a post on Facebook, Yasin said the president’s actions risked undermining Somalia’s state institutions and deepening divisions at a time of growing disputes over the country’s electoral process and the terms of federal institutions.
“Hassan Sheikh wants to push the nation over a cliff and take Somalia down the path of Al-Burhan and Hemedti: two presidents, two governments and two armies,” Yasin wrote, referring to Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the commander of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.
Sudan descended into war in April 2023 after a power struggle between the army and the RSF, whose competing military structures and leadership claims plunged the country into a devastating conflict.
Yasin, who previously headed Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), also alleged that a foreign government had encouraged Hassan Sheikh to remain in office, claiming that such support was intended to widen divisions among Somalis.
“A foreign government has persuaded him not to leave the seat, with the aim of further dividing Somalis. God willing, that ambition will not succeed,” he said.
He did not identify the foreign government or provide evidence to support the allegation.
The comments come amid mounting political tensions in Somalia over the electoral framework, constitutional changes and the duration of the mandates of federal institutions. Opposition figures have challenged the government’s approach to elections and accused it of pursuing a process without sufficient political agreement.
Somali Report · Newsletter
Your morning briefing on Somalia's biggest stories — politics, security, business, and the people shaping the region's future.
Tensions intensified after the National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission announced a timetable for elections to both houses of the federal parliament and the presidency. Opposition politicians rejected the schedule, arguing that key political disagreements must be resolved through negotiations before an electoral process can proceed.
The government has promoted a transition towards direct elections, while critics have questioned the legitimacy and implementation of the proposed arrangements in the absence of broad consensus among political stakeholders and federal member states.
The dispute has added to concerns about the stability of Somalia’s federal system, which faces persistent security challenges, including the ongoing insurgency by Al-Shabaab.
Yasin’s warning draws a comparison with Sudan, where rivalry between two powerful armed factions escalated into a war that has displaced millions and triggered a severe humanitarian crisis. Somalia’s political dispute, however, remains distinct from Sudan’s military conflict, and Yasin’s remarks represent his assessment of the risks facing the country rather than evidence that a similar outcome is inevitable.
Somalia has experienced repeated disputes over election arrangements and transfers of power, including tensions surrounding the end of former president Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed’s term in 2021. Political negotiations eventually produced an agreement that paved the way for a presidential election in May 2022, when Hassan Sheikh returned to office.
The latest accusations underscore the widening rift between the president’s administration and its opponents as political leaders face pressure to agree on an electoral process and prevent disputes over power from escalating further.
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.
Somaliland President Cirro Rejects Egypt-Led Alliance Over Sovereignty
