Somalia says South West State president's mandate expired as tensions escalate

Somalia's central government said late Sunday that the mandate of South West State's president and administration had officially expired as tensions between the two sides continue to escalate. The Interior Ministry said in a statement that the government will no longer recognize any appointments or dismissals by the current administration.

Transition process

It said local administrations in South West State will continue their duties until new councils are elected, and the government is in consultation with traditional elders to prevent instability. "The Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation of the Federal Government of Somalia, together with traditional elders of South West State, is specifically responsible for managing this process," the statement said.

Constitutional dispute

The political gridlock between the central government in Mogadishu and the interim capital of Baidoa in South West State has been growing since both houses of the federal parliament voted to overhaul the national constitution, ending decades of transitional rule earlier this month. South West State rejected the newly approved amendments to the Somali provisional constitution, calling them fraudulent and a driver of corruption.

Leadership legitimacy clash

Federal officials in Mogadishu argue that the state's president, Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen, has exceeded his legal term and is governing without legitimacy. Conversely, South West State officials and their supporters view federal intervention as an unlawful encroachment and a plot to install a loyalist.

Flights suspended

Following the suspension of cooperation, South West State also accused the federal government of arming "unidentified militias" and attempting to destabilize the region. The state on Thursday suspended all commercial and private flights to and from its airports, citing security concerns. Authorities said only United Nations and African Union flights will be allowed, limited to humanitarian, medical and official purposes and barred from carrying political figures without approval.