Mohamed Abdi Waare said that he resigned as the President of HirShabelle State because of increasing frustrations and betrayal from Mogadishu.
Since winning elections and assuming office on September 16, 2017, Waare has always been one of Mogadishu’s favorite regional leaders.
He was expected to retain his seat because of the closeness with President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo of the Federal Government of Somalia.
However, earlier this week, Waare resigned as the HirShabelle President.
His resignation took place two days before the presidential elections in the semiautonomous state are to kick off on Wednesday, November 4.
With his resignation confirmed, Abdullahi Ali Guudlaawe, HirShabelle Vice President, is now the frontrunner, primarily because he also enjoys Mogadishu’s patronage.
Waare said that Mogadishu abandoned him at his hour of need.
Upon his electoral victory, Waare was part of a group of Federal Member States known as Council for Inter-Governmental Cooperation (CIC).
However, he resigned from CIC calling it an “opposition party.”
While resigning from CIC, Waare promised to work closely with the Federal Government. At the time, he also vowed to leave if the government mistreats him.
He appears to have done just that.