Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has said Hiiraan region can host the capital of Hirshabelle state, acknowledging longstanding grievances over the location of the regional administration's headquarters.
Speaking on Sunday at the inauguration ceremony of Hirshabelle President Ali Abdullahi Hussein, widely known as Ali Guudlawe, Hassan said residents of Hiiraan had been given the right to have the state capital in their region but needed to ensure the city could provide a safe and stable environment for government institutions and residents.
"To our brothers and sisters in Hiiraan, we have given you the capital, but what is required of you is to make it a place where people can live, stay and work, and where everyone feels safe and secure," he said.
The president acknowledged that Hiiraan was a key part of Hirshabelle, noting that a significant proportion of the state's population lived in the region. He said residents' concerns and aspirations should therefore be taken into account when determining the location of the state capital.
Hassan said there was no opposition to the capital being located in a city within Hiiraan, but stressed that the final decision rested with the Hirshabelle administration.
"There is no one who opposes the capital of Hirshabelle being a city in Hiiraan region, but the final decision belongs to the Hirshabelle administration," he said.
The question of where to locate Hirshabelle's capital has been a longstanding source of political disagreement between communities in the two regions that make up the federal state.
Hassan recalled that the town of Buulo Burte in Hiiraan was initially designated as the state capital when Hirshabelle was established. However, the arrangement was never implemented, and a subsequent decision made Jowhar, in the neighbouring Middle Shabelle region, the administrative headquarters.
Jowhar has since served as the seat of the Hirshabelle government for about a decade, while demands for the capital to be moved to Hiiraan have continued.
Somali Report · Newsletter
Your morning briefing on Somalia's biggest stories — politics, security, business, and the people shaping the region's future.
The president said there was nothing preventing the state capital from being relocated to Hiiraan, provided that political leaders and communities reached an agreement acceptable to all sides.
He emphasised that a capital needed adequate security, stability and an environment in which government officials and institutions could operate without fear.
The issue has remained sensitive in Hirshabelle, where disagreements over political representation, power-sharing and the distribution of administrative institutions have periodically fuelled tensions between communities.
Ugaas Yusuf Ugaas Hassan, the chief of Hawadle clan has urged tribal fighters and soldiers within SNA, including members of Somalia’s national army, to gather in Beledweyne and defend Hiiraan amid rising tensions and reports of approaching federal troops.
Hassan pledged that the federal government would support efforts to address grievances in the state and participate in discussions aimed at reaching a mutually acceptable settlement.
His remarks appeared to signal federal support for considering Hiiraan's longstanding demand, while leaving the formal decision on the capital's location to the Hirshabelle leadership.
The inauguration of Guudlawe comes as the state continues to face political and security challenges, including the need to strengthen relations among its constituent regions and improve stability across its territory.
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.
