Somalia’s South West State has formally suspended all cooperation with the federal government in Mogadishu, marking the latest escalation in tensions within the country’s fragile federal system. Officials from South West accused Mogadishu of deliberately arming militias and attempting to remove President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen, actions they say threaten the stability and governance of the state.
The move comes amid broader disputes over constitutional changes and the timing and nature of elections, which have repeatedly exposed faultlines between the federal government and regional administrations. South West officials said relations deteriorated further after the federal government pushed through constitutional amendments opposed by several state leaders.
As part of the standoff, commercial flights between Mogadishu and Baidoa, South West’s administrative capital, have been suspended. Baidoa is a key city politically and militarily, hosting federal troops, regional security forces, and international humanitarian operations in an area affected by drought, conflict, and large-scale displacement. Humanitarian flights, including United Nations missions, continue to operate despite the restrictions.
The tensions in South West mirror broader regional disputes. Puntland, a semi-autonomous state, announced in March 2024 that it would no longer recognize the federal government until contested constitutional amendments are approved through a nationwide referendum. Jubbaland suspended relations with Mogadishu in November 2024 following disagreements over regional elections. Somaliland has remained outside the federal government’s control since declaring independence in 1991.
These developments underscore the fragility of Somalia’s federal system and the increasing challenges facing the central government as more regional administrations assert autonomy, raising the risk of political fragmentation and complicating efforts to hold nationwide elections.
