Tensions over Somalia’s disputed one-person-one-vote election escalated in Beledweyne on Tuesday after heavily armed Macawiisley fighters took control of several voter registration centers designated for the electoral process in the Hiiraan region.
The fighters were deployed at key registration sites, including Mujamac School, one of the main venues selected for voter registration in the city.
Witnesses reported that the forces prevented election-related activities from proceeding, citing political and security concerns surrounding the planned vote.
Macawiisley leaders said they would not allow an election backed by Hirshabelle President Ali Gudlawe and his political allies to take place in Beledweyne.
They described Gudlawe as a leader whose mandate had expired and argued that the current political environment does not support the holding of a credible election in the region.
The development marks a significant escalation in the political dispute surrounding the electoral process in Hirshabelle.
The Ma’awisley forces, who previously gained prominence for their role in anti-Al-Shabaab operations across Hiiraan, are now openly intervening in a political and electoral matter.
The fighters also reportedly stated that no election excluding President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud from the ballot would be accepted in Hiiraan, raising further questions about the political motivations behind the standoff and the relationship between local armed groups, the Federal Government, and regional authorities.
The seizure of registration centers poses a major challenge for election officials and could disrupt efforts to register voters in one of Somalia’s most politically sensitive regions.
The presence of armed forces at election sites has also heightened concerns over the safety of electoral staff and civilians seeking to participate in the process.
Federal authorities, the Hirshabelle administration, and electoral bodies have yet to provide a detailed response on the number of centers affected or whether voter registration activities continue elsewhere in the region.
The incident is expected to intensify debate over the legitimacy and feasibility of the planned elections as political divisions deepen across Somalia.