Hirshabelle State President, Ali Guudlaawe, has fired Ali Jeyte, the governor of Hiiraan region, in a surprising move which raised worries over the the future of the ongoing anti-al-Shabab military campaign in the region.
Jeyte has gained a significant public and international support for spearheading the first public uprising against al-Shabab in Somalia, that resulted in the expulsion of the from nearly all of Hiiraan region in recent months.
The sacking announcement made by the state leader on Saturday evening is widely expected to have a significant implications over the ongoing operations against militants in the region, given the key role he played in coordinating efforts to oust the group from nearly all areas within the region.
However, Jeyte’s dismissal occurs on the backdrop of a widening rift between him and the state leader regarding the management of the region’s tax revenues.
