BAIDOA, Somalia – As the term of the incumbent president Abdiaziz Lafta-Garen comes to an ending point this year, there is a growing standoff over the timetable of the election.
In an interview with Radio Shabelle, Ibrahim Sheikh Abdiwahid, who served as deputy chair of the reconciliation of Southwest State urged the opposition to refrain from stoking unrest.
Abdiwahid called on the rival sides to bring an end to their differences through a peaceful dialogue to prevent Southwest State from being plagued by violence and derailed progress.
Lafta-Garen was accused of refusing to hold the election on its schedule and agreed time which is the end of this year. The opposition warned of the formation of a parallel administration.
The opposition, including former Somali parliament speakers, ministers, and lawmakers gathered last week in Nairobi, Kenya to discuss their plan, if Lafta-Garen extends his term.
Armed clashes involving rival political factions occurred in Baidoa, Bay Region, in early Dec. 2023. There have been reports of casualties though the casualty toll is unclear, while internet services are reportedly disrupted in the area.
The federal government has condemned the violence. Clashes erupted over the extension of the mandate of the regional leader Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen.
