MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s ousted Southwest state President Abdiasis Laftagaren has forcefully renewed his claim to office, declaring that he remains the lawful regional leader following his March 28 re-election, which he says complied fully with both federal and regional constitutional frameworks.
In a wide-ranging interview on Somali Stream’s Geed Fadhi program, Laftagaren offered an extensive account of the circumstances surrounding his removal, portraying it as an externally driven power shift rather than a legitimate political transition. He said his decision not to militarily defend Baidoa – despite commanding more than 5,000 troops – was guided by a calculation to avoid devastating civilian casualties in an urban confrontation.
Laftagaren emphasized that fighting inside Baidoa would have inflicted severe harm on residents, framing his restraint as a deliberate effort to safeguard the population. He contrasted that stance with sharp criticism of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, whom he accused of showing disregard for civilian lives.
Expanding his criticism, Laftagaren pointed to the demolition of Siinaay market as an example of policies he said harmed vulnerable communities, including people from the president’s own sub-clan who depended on the market for their livelihoods.
Providing operational insight into the takeover, Laftagaren said Southwest forces had established defensive positions in the Burjed area, about 10 kilometers from Baidoa. He alleged that foreign aerial surveillance identified those fortifications and relayed intelligence to federal troops, enabling them to alter their advance and enter the city through an unexpected route, catching regional forces off guard.
He said that once federal forces entered Baidoa, he ordered his troops to remain in their bases and avoid confrontation, later instructing them to withdraw entirely before his own departure. He described the sequence as a controlled disengagement aimed at preventing escalation and civilian harm.
Throughout the interview, Laftagaren used terminology historically associated with militia groups that operated after Somalia’s state collapse in 1991 when referring to federal forces, underscoring the depth of his grievances against Mogadishu.
He also accused the president of exerting personal pressure to force his compliance, alleging that former custodial corps commander Mahad Abdirahman – whom he identified as both a relative and in-law – was used as an intermediary to compel him to accept terms that included leaving Baidoa, issuing a resignation letter and endorsing an interim administration.
Addressing his past political positioning, Laftagaren said his cooperation with Mohamud had been pragmatic rather than rooted in alliance, intended to shield Southwest state from instability even as other regional leaders, including Puntland President Saeed Abdullahi Deni and Jubaland leader Ahmed Mohamed Islam Madobe, broke with the federal government.
The remarks come as federal authorities move to install parliamentary Speaker Adan Mohamed Nuur as Southwest’s next president through a vote widely viewed as lacking robust competition after key candidates withdrew under political pressure.
The competing claims to authority highlight mounting uncertainty over Southwest state’s political trajectory. With Laftagaren retaining support within the region and command over loyal forces, the standoff risks deepening tensions and further straining Somalia’s delicate federal system.
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