The Makane clan, an Afar community, staged a show of force in Beledweyne, demonstrating their support for Hawadle traditional leader Ugaas Yusuf Ugaas Hassan and his calls for greater political representation and consultation over Hiiraan's future. Dozens of fighters, including women carrying AK-47 rifles, assembled in the city to voice their opposition to the Hirshabelle administration. This mobilization comes as several clans in Hiiraan challenge the legitimacy of Hirshabelle's recent leadership elections.
Abdiwajid Sheikh Nuriyow, also known as Camba Gooye, a former deputy governor of Hiiraan for social affairs, said the Makane community stood firmly behind Ugaas Yusuf. He emphasized that the community had rejected the current Hirshabelle leadership and was prepared to respond to calls from the traditional leader. Camba Gooye highlighted the community's commitment to Hiiraan's unity and cohesion, driven by their shared lives and common heritage.
Osman Adan Careys, a politician from the Makane clan, accused the Hirshabelle administration of failing to provide genuine political representation for his community. He claimed that individuals claiming to represent the Makane clan within Hirshabelle had not been selected by the community and did not reflect its interests. Careys emphasized that those who represent the Makane clan must be chosen by the community itself.
The Makane community representatives rejected the existing power-sharing arrangements in Hirshabelle, citing that their clan had been denied adequate political and administrative positions. They asserted their right to determine their political future and indicated they were prepared to support political groups willing to address their grievances and guarantee fair representation, equality, and justice.
The armed gathering comes amid increasing opposition to the Hirshabelle administration following the October 24 re-election of President Ali Abdullahi Hussein Gudlawe and the election of Abdifatah Hassan Afrah as vice president in Jowhar. Traditional elders and political figures in Hiiraan region have rejected the electoral process, arguing that it failed to address longstanding disputes over power-sharing and the region's political representation.
Earlier this week, Hawadle elders issued a communiqué calling for an inclusive conference involving all clans, politicians, and traditional leaders in Hiiraan to discuss the region's political future. The elders also announced plans for a peaceful demonstration in support of Ugaas Yusuf's position. Ugaas Yusuf previously called on security personnel from Hiiraan to rally behind him, warning against the use of government forces to resolve political disagreements.
The involvement of armed militia groups in the political dispute has raised concerns about the possibility of further confrontations between forces aligned with local clan leaders and those supporting the Hirshabelle administration. Hirshabelle authorities have not publicly responded to the latest Makane clan statement or the armed gathering in Beledweyne. The situation remains tense, with the Makane clan and other communities seeking greater representation and consultation in the region's governance.
Key points
- The Makane clan's opposition to the Hirshabelle administration is driven by a lack of political representation and consultation.
- The clan has rejected the existing power-sharing arrangements in Hirshabelle, citing inadequate political and administrative positions.
- The situation has raised concerns about potential confrontations between forces aligned with local clan leaders and those supporting the Hirshabelle administration.
