The President of the South West State, Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed (Laftagareen), has announced that his administration has severed ties with the Federal Government of Somalia.
“Starting today, there will be no contact between us and the federal government until something Somalis agree on is brought,” the South West State President said at a press conference in Baidoa this afternoon.
President Laftagareen accused the Federal Government of Somalia of interfering in his administration, which he said was threatening the federal system and the unity of the country.
Laftagareen said that his journey had encountered many obstacles and roadblocks, but he finally reached the city. He accused the central government of deliberately pursuing a plan to weaken the South West State administration.
“We strongly condemn actions aimed at dividing society and destroying the federal system,” he said.
The South West State President also said that the Federal Government is interfering in security matters and is trying to divide the forces on the front lines fighting Al-Shabaab.
Laftagareen has openly opposed the constitutional amendment, saying that the interim constitution approved in 2012 is the only legitimate one.
He described the new constitution as incomplete and was adopted through a process he described as corrupt and based on vested interests.
He also said that flights were being denied access to Baidoa, and that travel restrictions were being imposed on the people of the South West. He accused the administration of Aden Adde airport of becoming a “political checkpoint” where people were being discriminated against based on their views.
He called on the people of the South West to prepare to defend their region and their statehood, urging them to unite. Meanwhile, Laftagareen called on the international community, including the African Union and IGAD, to urgently intervene in the situation in Somalia.
