MOGADISHU (Kaab TV) – Following today’s re-election of President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed (Laftagareen) in South West State, Somalia’s Ministry of Interior and Federal Affairs has condemned the vote, describing it as illegitimate.
In an official statement, the ministry said the election held in Baydhabo was “an unlawful act and a premeditated self-appointment.”
“This action contravenes all agreements of the National Consultative Council, the electoral laws, and the national constitution, and it does not reflect the will of the people of South West State,” the statement read.
The ministry added: “It is clear that what took place was not a legitimate election, but rather a blatant attempt to manipulate the democratic process and impose a pre-determined outcome. The procedure, concluded within 24 hours, lacked transparency, free competition, and legal legitimacy, and therefore cannot be recognized as an election in accordance with the constitution and the country’s governance system.”
The statement further emphasized that the vote undermines the legal principles guiding Somalia’s state-building process, worsens long-standing grievances in South West State, and threatens ongoing reconciliation and democratization efforts.
“The Federal Government of Somalia stresses that no process rooted in illegality, coercion, or political corruption, disguised as an election, can be accepted. Legitimate leadership can only emerge from the genuine will of the people through a free, transparent, fair, and lawful process,” the statement said.
It concluded by reaffirming the federal government’s commitment “to defending the constitution, upholding the federal system, and implementing free, fair, and transparent elections that reflect the true will of the Somali people.”