Somalia President requests Turkey to mediate conflict with Regional State

MOGADISHU, Somalia - After weeks of standoff between the federal government and the regional state of Southwest, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has turned to Turkey for mediation, showcasing his growing camaraderie with Ankara, a top security and development partner of Mogadishu.

Multiple sources told Garowe Online that Hassan Sheikh requested Turkey's ambassador to Somalia Alper Aktas to intervene. Southwest leader Abdiaziz Laftagareen is at loggerheads with the federal government, with the two distinct levels of government differing on important national issues.

In the request, President Hassan Sheikh is said to have asked the envoy to speak to Laftagareen, who has refused to travel to Mogadishu, adding that upon travel, Turkey should be in charge of his security to mitigate any suspicions that may arise.

So far, Alper has since conveyed this message to the South West President, but Laftagareen responded that he could visit Mogadishu anytime without issues. However, he stated that he is currently occupied and sees no urgent reason to travel to the capital.

Early this week, there were claims that the federal government had dispatched elite troops to Barawe in Southwest ready to counter rebellious leaders, but Mogadishu termed the claims as 'false and ill-intended'. "There are no such arrangements," the government said.

Southwest has opposed Somalia’s tough stance on Ethiopia's peacekeeping mission in Somalia, accusing Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of annexation plans following his agreement with Somaliland on access to the Red Sea, which has been granted.

Once the MoU is actualized, Ethiopia shall get 20 kilometers of access to the Red Sea for the construction of a military base and port, a move opposed by Somalia. In return, Ethiopia wants to recognize Somaliland as a sovereign state, further irking leadership in Somalia.

Mediation efforts by Turkey have flopped with Somalia ruling out participation of Ethiopian forces in the upcoming African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) which shall replace the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).

In its place, Somalia has recommended Egypt and Djibouti to spearhead the mission, terming Ethiopia as 'unfriendly and occupation oriented'. With Ethiopia dismissing infringement of Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, Southwest State maintains that Ethiopian troops should continue helping in the war against al-Shabaab.

Recently, hundreds of people in the Southwest protested in solidarity with Ethiopian troops, acknowledging their 'endless and brotherly support' in the fight against Al-Shabaab. "They have liberated many strategic areas," some of them told the media.

Last week, Hassan Sheikh dispatched Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre to Baidoa for a truce but the PM failed to strike a deal with local leadership, which accused Mogadishu of 'insubordination'. They also demanded the sacking of Defence Minister Abdikadir Nur and his Justice counterpart Mukhtar Robow.

Experts believe that this development reflects the involvement of foreign nations in Somalia’s internal political affairs. President Hassan Sheikh is keen on securing a meeting with Laftagareen, having recently held talks with Gen. Mahad Abdirahman, the federal corrections chief and close ally of Laftagareen, in an attempt to convince him.

The reasons behind Villa Somalia’s insistence on Laftagareen’s arrival in Mogadishu remain unclear but analysts believe that the move could be motivated by Somalia’s hard stance on Ethiopian troops operating in Somalia and the impending change of mission and its terms.

Despite the endless confusions and wrangles with Ethiopia and internal rifts, the Al-Shabab group remains Somalia’s pressing challenge, with the country insisting on foreign support in the elimination of the group. The al-Shabaab is keen to topple the fragile UN-backed federal government.

GAROWE ONLINE