MOGADISHU — Somalia’s former custodial corps chief, General Mahad Abdirahman, has delivered a stark assessment of the country’s trajectory, declaring that state authority has effectively collapsed and warning of a return to the lawlessness of the civil war era .
Speaking at a press briefing on Friday, Abdirahman accused President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of presiding over a period marked by widespread insecurity, including looting, sexual violence, and extortion. He argued that the situation reflects a profound breakdown of governance, with the country, in his view, sliding back into conditions reminiscent of two decades ago .
Allegations of Public Land Misappropriation
Abdirahman also alleged large-scale misappropriation of public land, claiming that state-owned properties including ministerial offices, security force camps, hospitals, and government agency premises have been sold off, leaving the government with limited operational space . He described this as the most extensive act of theft in the nation’s history and expressed disbelief that such actions could be attributed to a sitting president tasked with safeguarding national assets .
Deterioration in Baidoa Following Federal Takeover
Pointing to recent developments in Baidoa, he said the city has seen a sharp deterioration in security following the ousting of regional president Abdiasis Laftagareen by Somali forces last month . According to Abdirahman, a period of relative stability lasting around 20 years has been replaced by widespread disorder, with reports of looting, killings, checkpoints used for extortion, and other abuses . He claimed that even basic household items, including beds, have been taken in what he described as unchecked lawlessness .
Abdirahman, the recently dismissed chief of the regional Custodial Corps, has alleged that two civilians belonging to the clan of ousted leader Laftagareen were killed and their bodies burned inside Speaker Madobe’s Baidoa home in what he described as a reprisal attack. He claimed the charred remains were still at the doorstep during his interview, though he did not provide the evidence he said he possessed. These severe allegations currently remain independently unverified .
Context of Abdirahman’s Dismissal
The comments come weeks after Abdirahman himself was dismissed from his position by President Mohamud and placed under house arrest, reportedly due to his close ties with Laftagareen . He was later released following the regional leader’s removal .
The Council of Ministers officially approved the appointment of Major General Mohamed Sheikh Hassan Hamud as the new Commander of the Somali Custodial Corps, immediately removing the former chief, General Mahad Abdirahman, widely known as ‘Shub’. According to political analysts and government sources, General Mahad’s dismissal stemmed directly from his overt political alignment with the South West State administration as the father-in-law to regional President Laftagareen .
Laftagareen’s Resignation and Federal Takeover of Baidoa
The former custodial chief’s allegations come in the wake of the dramatic federal intervention in South West State. South West State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed (Laftagareen) officially resigned on March 29 after heavily armed federal government forces seized control of his administrative capital, Baidoa. Following intense, closed-door negotiations with federal officials, Laftagareen agreed to step down and was granted permission to travel abroad without legal restrictions, subsequently boarding a flight to Nairobi, Kenya .
President Mohamud’s extensive visit to Baidoa aimed at solidifying his political support and managing the precarious transition. The president’s trip occurred shortly after Laftagareen stepped down, and Speaker of the House of the People, Sheikh Adan Mohamed Nur Madobe, arrived in Baidoa shortly after to oversee preparations for regional presidential and local council elections .
Allegations of Misuse of International Military Aid
In his remarks, Abdirahman further alleged that weapons and equipment provided by international partners — including armored vehicles and aircraft — are being misused, claiming they are deployed against civilians rather than for their intended security purposes .
Members of the Federal Parliament representing South West State have accused the Federal Government of being directly responsible for the intense fighting that has rocked Baidoa. In a strongly worded statement, the lawmakers asserted that the clashes stemmed from destabilizing actions by federal authorities, emphasizing that Mogadishu bears “complete responsibility” for the damages and loss of life resulting from the conflict .
Senator Aadan Abdinaasir stated that legislators possess evidence indicating the federal government was aware of the escalating situation, noting that government-aligned forces were deliberately deployed near the residence of Federal Minister of Livestock Hasan Eelaay, where the majority of the fighting took place .
South West State’s Warning of Civil War
Officials from the South West State administration issued a stark warning prior to the federal takeover, declaring that actions by Somalia’s Federal Government constituted a “direct military war” against the regional state that could potentially ignite a new civil conflict. Southwest authorities leveled severe accusations against the federal government, claiming Mogadishu is actively morphing the Somali National Army into a partisan force heavily influenced by clan loyalties rather than national defense .
“Local communities view this as a clan-targeted assault, which is rapidly escalating tensions and poses a genuine threat of civil war,” the regional statement emphasized .
Federal Government’s Summons to Diplomats
The Federal Government urgently summoned all accredited diplomatic missions and international organizations to a high-level briefing at Villa Somalia as international concern mounted over the escalating political and military crisis in South West State. The urgent briefing followed a stark public warning from the United Nations in Somalia (UNTMIS), which voiced “serious apprehension” regarding the federal-regional standoff, explicitly warning against one-sided military approaches .
Puntland’s Warning of Federal Intervention
The concerns raised by Abdirahman align with warnings from other regional states. Authorities in Puntland have expressed concern that Somalia is experiencing a constitutional vacuum with escalating political uncertainty, advocating for immediate consultations to avert potential instability. President Deni has instructed regional forces to maintain heightened readiness and prepare for potential military action by Somalia’s federal government, warning against a repeat of the scenario that led to the ousting of Laftagareen .
“President Deni has accused the federal government of attempting to dismantle the nation’s federal framework, warning that policies threaten to fracture Somalia regionally,” the report stated .
Broader Constitutional and Political Divisions
Abdirahman’s statements add to growing tensions within Somalia’s political and security landscape, highlighting deep divisions over governance, authority, and the direction of the country . The dispute over South West State is part of a broader national crisis centered on federal constitutional amendments passed without regional consensus and the central government’s push for a “one-person, one-vote” system — a model that regional states deem currently impractical .
The scheduled April elections in South West State represent a high-stakes gamble for the federal administration, with a coalition of regional states and prominent political leaders throwing their support behind former South West State President Abdiaziz Laftagareen amid a rapidly deepening constitutional crisis. The Somali Future Council — comprising Jubbaland, Puntland, and the Salvation Forum — has issued a formal statement endorsing Laftagareen’s challenge to federal authority .
Outlook
As President Mohamud’s term enters its final weeks, the former custodial chief’s allegations reflect mounting political pressure on the federal administration. The federal government has not yet issued an official response to Abdirahman’s latest statements . The coming weeks will be critical in determining whether dialogue or further confrontation defines Somalia’s political future, with the international community continuing to monitor the situation closely .
