BAIDOA, Somalia – The outgoing leader of the South West State, Abdicasiis Laftagareen, officially resigned on Monday, naming Finance Minister Ahmed Mohamed Hussein as acting president of the regional administration.
The decision follows intensive talks between Laftagareen and the Federal Government of Somalia leadership, amid heightened tensions in the region. Earlier in the day, national forces and allied South West Salvation troops took control of key sites in the interim capital, Baidoa, signaling a significant shift in authority.
According to an official decree from the South West State administration, Hussein will assume the role of acting president, tasked with overseeing the regional government until a permanent leader is appointed. The decree underscores a cooperative handover and emphasizes continuity in governance during the transitional period.
Analysts note that the resignation and swift appointment of an acting president aim to prevent further escalation in Baidoa, where local security forces had previously clashed with federal troops. The move also reflects ongoing efforts to strengthen federal-regional coordination in the politically sensitive South West region.
Outgoing leader Laftagareen expressed gratitude to the people of the region and pledged his support for the new acting president to ensure stability, continuity in public services, and the safeguarding of regional unity. The federal government welcomed the decision, calling it a “constructive step” toward political reconciliation and orderly governance in the state.
This development marks one of the most notable transitions in South West Somalia’s administration in recent years, highlighting the delicate balance between regional autonomy and federal oversight in Somalia’s federal system.
