Former Southwest State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen has announced a new cabinet, despite remaining outside Baidoa, the administrative capital of Southwest State, amid an ongoing political dispute over the region’s leadership.
The appointments come at a time of heightened tensions between Laftagareen’s camp and the administration currently operating in Baidoa, with both sides maintaining competing political claims over the leadership and governance of Southwest State.
One of the most notable appointments is that of Ugaas Hassan Abdi Mohamed, a longtime ally and spokesperson for Laftagareen, who has been named Minister of Information.
Ugaas Hassan previously served as Southwest State’s Minister of Information and Public Awareness before leaving the post in 2020.
In recent weeks, he has been one of the most prominent voices speaking on behalf of Laftagareen and commenting on political and security developments surrounding Baidoa.
The appointment is widely seen as a sign of the trust Laftagareen places in close political allies as he seeks to maintain a functioning political structure despite being away from the regional capital.
Other members of the newly announced cabinet include Ibrahim Ali Adan Najah as Minister of Justice, Hassan Abdulkadir Mohamed as Minister of Internal Security, Nasro Aweys Sheikh Hussein as Minister of Women and Human Rights, Mustaf Mohamed Iidow as Minister of Education, Culture and Higher Education, and Isaaq Ali Subad as Minister of Agriculture.
Additional appointments include Ali Sheikh Abdullahi (Sheekh Afgooye) as Minister of Ports and Maritime Transport, Mohamed Isaaq Ali Ibrahim as Minister of Minerals and Petroleum, Said Ahmed Ali Omar as Minister of Constitutional Affairs, Abdifatah Mohamed Ali Abaroone as Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Eng. Diini Abdinuur Mohamed as Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and Nur Siidow Baaba as Minister of Religious Affairs and Endowments.
Laftagareen also appointed Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim Nur as Minister of State for the Presidency.
Mohamed Hussein Hassan (Cadaawe) was named Deputy Minister of Transport, Mohamed Qeys Hassan as Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, and Omar Daud Khalif as Deputy Minister of Minerals and Petroleum.
The formation of a cabinet while outside Baidoa carries significant political implications.
It signals that Laftagareen continues to assert his claim to the leadership of Southwest State and is attempting to maintain a parallel administrative structure with ministers and officials operating under his authority.
The move also suggests that the political dispute in Southwest State has evolved beyond a disagreement over who holds the presidency and has increasingly become a contest over institutions, governance structures, and political legitimacy.
However, the announcement of ministers alone does not necessarily translate into administrative control.
Effective governance depends on who controls government institutions, security forces, public services, and official facilities within Baidoa and other parts of the region.
The appointment of Ugaas Hassan is particularly significant given his longstanding role in Southwest State politics and his recent position as Laftagareen’s spokesperson.
His return to the Information Ministry places a veteran political communicator at the center of Laftagareen’s efforts to shape public messaging and maintain influence during a period of deep political uncertainty.