Jubaland Accuses Villa Somalia of Orchestrating Social Media Smear Campaign Against its President

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The media director for Jubaland's presidency, Mohamed Hassan Hiis, has levied allegations against Somalia Villa, the country's Presidential Palace, claiming it is funding a social media campaign intended to undermine President Ahmed Madobe's reputation.

Hiis specifically pointed to Abdulkadir Ali Dige, Villa Somalia's Director of Communications, as the orchestrator of what he described as a "smear campaign" against President Ahmed Madobe who is at loggerheads with President Hassan Sheikh over the election model.

"President, do you still have hope for the delegation you are sending to resolve the current dispute, while your Communications Director and office are paying for insults and propaganda against the leaders you invited to the NCC Forum?" Hiis posed, questioning the sincerity of the government's efforts to resolve the current stalemate at NCC.

This accusation emerges during the fifth day of the National Consultative Council (NCC) meeting in Mogadishu. The talks involve representatives from the federal government and four of Somalia's federal states—Galmudug, HirShabelle, Southwest, and Jubaland. They are negotiating issues like constitutional reform, security, and electoral processes.

Puntland, however, has opted out of the NCC discussions, severing ties with the federal government over proposed constitutional changes. These changes are seen as a means for President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to extend his term under the guise of implementing a one-person-one-vote system, a proposal he once opposed when suggested by his predecessor, Farmajo before the 2022 indirect election.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and his Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, are advocating for a direct election model, with illegal extensions for the regional and Federal leaders, which contrasts with President Madobe's stance favoring a timely vote.

This internal discord, highlighted by Hiis's allegations, underscores the deep-seated political tensions within Somalia, reflecting broader challenges in governance, federalism, and the path towards democratic elections. The use of social media as a battleground for political warfare adds a new dimension to Somalia's complex political landscape, where information warfare could potentially deepen existing rifts or ignite new conflicts.

GAROWE ONLINE