The South West Administration of Somalia has officially announced that it has suspended its cooperation with the Federal Government of Somalia.
A press release from the South West Administration stated that the decision came after a long investigation and assessment of the general situation in the country and what it described as direct interference from the federal government.
The South West Administration accused the central government of conducting military mobilization in the South West regions in recent months to undermine social unity and the system of governance at the state level. It also said that members of the federal cabinet had directly interfered in security, economic and internal administration matters.
“After many discussions with the federal government, in which we demanded an end to the interference, it became clear to us that these measures are aimed at undermining the existence of the South West state,” the press release said.
The South West administration also said that they had seen weapons and military equipment that, as they put it, were being equipped with unidentified militias operating in their areas, which they described as visually resembling armed groups outside the state system.
“Based on these issues, the South West announces that from today it has completely suspended all cooperation with the federal government, until a federal government is found that regulates the federal system,” said a press release read to the press by the Spokesperson of the South West State Government.
The South West State Government becomes the third State Government to cut ties with the Federal Government of Somalia. Puntland and Jubbaland have previously cut ties with the Federal Government.
