MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Four regional state presidents are considering forming an alliance against Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Caasimada Online news website reported on Sunday, months after both sides said they had resolved differences.
The leaders of Puntland, Southwest, Galmudug and Jubaland are planning to announce a new coalition against Mohamud’s government, which has failed to win the full support of federal member states since his re-election in May.
President of Puntland State Saeed Abdullahi Deni, whose talks with Mohamud failed to make headway a week ago, is spearheading efforts to establish the alliance. In a recent speech, he criticized his former ally’s administration for ineptitude.
Among the demands tabled by Deni that the Somali President turned down is withdrawing support to opposition politicians attempting to usurp the presidency of Southwest State from Abdiasis Laftagaren, a staunch supporter of former Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo.
Somali President is also working to remove the longest-serving Somali regional leader – the President of Jubaland State Ahmed Madobe who enjoys the backing of thousands of Kenyan troops manning his seat of power, the coastal town of Kismayo.
Tensions between federal and regional authorities have been escalating since Mohamud returned to office in May despite his election campaign slogan of “Somalis at peace with each other.”
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