Mogadishu – Somalia’s federal government has invalidated the election results from Baidoa held on Saturday, denouncing them as illegitimate and exacerbating an unstable political conflict with the Southwest State administration.
A statement from the Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation characterized the vote as a “premeditated appointment” that did not represent the desires of Southwest State residents.
The ministry declared: “This election lacked legitimacy. Any process involving illegality, coercion and political corruption cannot be considered acceptable, regardless of being labeled an election.”
The ministry contended that the process, completed in just 24 hours, lacked transparency and genuine competition. It noted that the vote violated Somalia’s constitution, electoral laws and state-building principles, cautioning that it might further destabilize the vulnerable Southwest regions.
The contested election resulted in President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen being re-elected for a five-year term, with Dr. Ali Said Fiqi selected as Speaker of the regional parliament. The voting occurred in Baidoa, the temporary administrative center of Southwest State.
Despite the federal government’s dismissal, numerous prominent political figures endorsed the results. Former Somali Presidents Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo and Sharif Sheikh Ahmed congratulated Laftagareen, highlighting the significance of democratic processes and institutional continuity in the federal system.
Their support highlighted the widening political schism between Mogadishu and important regional stakeholders.
Opposition factions in Southwest State had previously condemned the selection of the 95 members of the third regional parliament, rejecting both the make-up of the legislature and the following leadership elections.
Laftagareen’s re-election occurs during an escalating confrontation between the federal government and multiple federal member states, including Puntland and Jubbaland. All three have severed relations with Mogadishu, accusing it of meddling in their political and security matters.
Central to the conflict are constitutional amendments passed by Somalia’s federal parliament extending federal institution mandates from four to five years. These changes have been opposed by regional administrations and opposition groups, who contend they erode consensus and endanger the nation’s delicate federal structure.
The political deadlock has sparked concerns about possible security escalation. Reports suggest federal troops and forces affiliated with Southwest opposition groups are advancing toward Baidoa, ostensibly to confront the newly elected leadership. The Southwest administration has pledged to resist any efforts to remove its officials.
On Saturday, a federal minister confirmed that Bardale district had come under government-aligned control, a development widely seen by observers as indicating progress toward Baidoa.
Southwest officials have consistently accused the federal government of sending troops to destabilize the region; claims Mogadishu has not publicly responded to.