Former Somali intelligence chief Abdullahi Mohamed Ali Sanbaloolshe has rejected President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's proposal to make Beledweyne the capital of Hirshabelle. Sanbaloolshe argued that the federal president has no legal authority to determine the location of a regional state's capital. He made these remarks in a statement posted on Facebook on Monday, criticizing Hassan Sheikh's comments during the inauguration of Hirshabelle's re-elected leadership in Jowhar on Sunday.
Sanbaloolshe, a former director of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) and current federal lawmaker, said the regional capital was not a political gift that Hassan Sheikh could offer the people of Hiiraan. He also questioned Hassan Sheikh's legitimacy to make decisions affecting Hirshabelle's political future, citing that his presidential mandate had expired. However, the federal government maintains that constitutional amendments extend the president's mandate until May 2027.
Sanbaloolshe emphasized that the location of the regional capital, the selection of political leaders, and other governance arrangements should be determined by Hirshabelle's communities rather than imposed by the federal government. He urged Hirshabelle residents to determine their political future through dialogue and a broadly accepted agreement on leadership, representation, and the location of the regional capital.
Hassan Sheikh's proposal was announced during the inauguration of Hirshabelle's re-elected leadership in Jowhar, where he stated that the people of Hiiraan could host the regional capital if a suitable and secure location was established. The president said the proposal would need to follow necessary government procedures and urged Hiiraan communities to help establish conditions for the administration to function effectively.
Sanbaloolshe rejected Hassan Sheikh's approach, arguing that it placed conditions on a decision that should be made through negotiations between the people of Hiiraan and Middle Shabelle. He also accused Hassan Sheikh of contributing to political divisions within Hirshabelle while failing to address grievances raised by Hiiraan communities and their traditional leader, Ugaas Yusuf Ugaas Hassan.
The dispute arises amid heightened tensions in Hiiraan following the re-election of Hirshabelle President Ali Abdullahi Hussein Gudlawe and the election of Abdifatah Hassan Afrah as vice president in Jowhar on October 24. Some traditional elders and political figures in Hiiraan have rejected the electoral process, citing insufficient consultation on political representation and power-sharing.
The disagreements have fueled tensions in Beledweyne, where rival security personnel and local militia fighters have reportedly mobilized following Afrah's visit to the city. Hirshabelle, established in 2016, has faced recurring disputes over the distribution of political power between Hiiraan and Middle Shabelle, including disagreements over the location of the regional capital.
Key points
- Sanbaloolshe questions Hassan Sheikh's legitimacy to make decisions on Hirshabelle's capital location
- Hassan Sheikh proposes Beledweyne as potential capital of Hirshabelle
- Dispute arises amid heightened tensions in Hiiraan over electoral process and power-sharing
