Somalia’s parliament speaker has accused Kenyan troops of protecting former South West leader Abdiaziz Lafta-Gareen’s interests amid escalating security tensions in the region.
MOGADISHU (Somali Report) — Somalia's parliament speaker Abdikadir Mohamed Nur Jama has urged the federal government to take action against individuals accused of involvement in militant activities who he said were living openly in neighbouring Kenya, as fighting and political tensions deepen in the country's South West state.
Jama made the remarks during a meeting in Mogadishu focused on the deteriorating security situation in South West, where forces loyal to former regional leader Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Lafta-Gareen have been expanding their presence amid clashes involving rival forces.
The speaker questioned why individuals allegedly placed on Somalia's terrorism blacklist remained at known locations in Kenyan cities, particularly hotels in the capital Nairobi, without apparent action from authorities.
"It is unacceptable that in a country with which we have good relations and share neighbourhood ties, someone spilling Somali blood should be living there," Jama said, describing the situation as a new and troubling development.
He called on the federal government, particularly the cabinet, to explain why no visible steps had been taken against the individuals, whose whereabouts he said were known and who were allegedly protected by Kenyan security forces.
Jama also demanded accountability from peacekeeping forces deployed in parts of South West, questioning why areas where they had been stationed had subsequently come under the control of forces aligned with Lafta-Gareen.
"We want the government to hold accountable the peacekeeping forces for why militants are present in areas where those forces had been deployed," he said.
The speaker's comments come amid growing instability in the southwestern region, where political divisions have intensified following the removal of Lafta-Gareen from power and the emergence of competing claims over control of key towns.
Jama said authorities should not allow militant groups to maintain a presence in parts of the region, adding that efforts would be made to clear them from South West.
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The security situation has also drawn scrutiny over the role of Ethiopian troops operating in Somalia. Ethiopian forces have been accused of failing to prevent armed groups from taking control of towns in areas where they were deployed. The allegations have not been independently verified.
Towns reported to have changed hands amid the unrest include Buurhakaba, Ardaale, Qansaxdheere and Diinsoor, raising questions about the effectiveness of security arrangements and the protection of civilians.
The wider crisis has left parts of Bay, Bakool and Lower Shabelle regions facing heightened insecurity, with clashes reported between government forces and fighters aligned with the former South West administration.
The political dispute has added pressure on Somalia's federal authorities as they seek to maintain security cooperation with international partners while addressing competing claims to regional power.
Somalia relies on international and regional forces to support its security operations against Al-Shabaab, the Al-Qaeda-linked militant group that continues to carry out attacks across the country.
Jama did not identify the individuals he alleged were living in Kenya or provide evidence for his claims about their protection by Kenyan security personnel. Kenyan authorities had not publicly responded to the allegations at the time of publication.
The federal government has also not publicly detailed any measures it intends to take in response to the speaker's demands.
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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