Somalia: MP Slams Federal Takeover of South West State as "Illegal" and "Dictatorial"

MOGADISHU — Member of the Federal Parliament Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame has issued a blistering condemnation of the Federal Government’s decision to appoint an administration for South West State, characterizing the move as a flagrant and illegal violation of both the Federal and State Constitutions.

The lawmaker emphasized that it is constitutionally impossible for the central government to appoint an administration for a federal member state that possesses its own established constitutional institutions. He reminded the public that the South West State Constitution explicitly mandates that if a president resigns, a presidential election must be held within 30 days.

Abdishakur described the federal intervention as a sign of a "dangerous phase" for the country, calling it the beginning of a power grab intended to dismantle the federal system and subordinate the law to personal whims.

The MP directly accused President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of orchestrating the move to ensure his own re-election. He alleged that the president is seeking a process where he acts as both a candidate and the judge, thereby guaranteeing the outcome in his favor.

Furthermore, Abdishakur warned that such "corrupt ambitions" severely damage years of efforts invested in national reconciliation, social trust, and the fragile state-building process rooted in power-sharing and the parliamentary system.

Recalling Somalia’s history, the lawmaker noted that the culture of dictatorship, nepotism, and the abuse of power were the very factors that led to the collapse of the Somali state in 1991. He issued a stern warning to those remaining silent or supporting these actions, stating that the resulting instability and "fitna" (strife) would spare no one.

GAROWE ONLINE