MOGADISHU — Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has officially issued a decree appointing an interim leader for the Southwest State administration amid highly volatile ongoing political developments, federal officials reported today.
Appointing a Caretaker Leader
According to the official decree, Second Deputy Prime Minister Jibril Abdirashid Haji Abdi will immediately assume the caretaker position for an undefined duration until a new, permanent regional president is officially elected. Beyond maintaining basic governance, his primary responsibilities will heavily include advancing concrete preparations for the implementation of universal, one-person, one-vote elections across the regional state.
The strategic appointment significantly coincides with confirmed reports that Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud plans to travel this Thursday directly to Baidoa, the temporary capital of Southwest State, where critical, high-level political consultations are expected to take place.
Managing the Transition
The Prime Minister’s decision directly follows the recent, dramatic removal of Southwest regional President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed (Lafta-Gareen), a major power shift which occurred after days of escalating political tension and intense military clashes between rival forces in and around Baidoa.
Federal authorities firmly stated that the interim arrangement is specifically designed to handle this delicate transition period and facilitate the stable establishment of new regional leadership. Southwest State has been the primary focal point of a severe national political impasse in recent days, with central authorities continually stressing the absolute necessity of a neutral interim administration to maintain civilian stability and aggressively prepare for the upcoming democratic elections.
