Facebook Twitter (X) Instagram Somali Magazine - People's Magazine
A delegation led by former Speaker of Somalia’s House of the People, Mohamed Mursal Sheikh Abdirahman, was stopped from traveling to Baidoa, the capital of the Bay region, on Tuesday. The incident has sparked fresh debate amid ongoing political tensions in South West state, where divisions between opposition politicians and the regional administration of President Abdiasis Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen continue to deepen.
According to members of the delegation, which included several lawmakers from the region, their flight was blocked after airlines operating in Baidoa reportedly received direct orders from the South West state president not to allow them to board. The delegation members included MPs Mohamed Abuukar Abdi, Mohamed Abdi Mohamed, Mukhtaar Mohamed Guuleed, Mohamed Keerow Mohamed, and Hawo Sokor Ali.
One of the lawmakers, MP Mohamed Abdi Frank, told reporters that the group was prevented from boarding their scheduled flight to Baidoa. “The plane we were supposed to fly on said we couldn’t be picked up because orders had been issued from Baidoa not to transport us,” he explained. The MPs described the move as a politically motivated restriction meant to limit their activities ahead of the upcoming South West presidential election.
The lawmakers expressed frustration over what they described as growing political interference in the state. They said the travel restrictions were part of a wider attempt by the regional government to silence opposition voices and prevent them from engaging with their supporters in Baidoa. “We were only traveling to meet local leaders and residents, not to cause any instability,” one of the MPs said. “But it seems the administration doesn’t want any political competition or differing opinions.”
Tensions in South West state have been mounting for months as opposition figures accuse President Laftagareen of tightening control over the region’s political landscape. They claim that key democratic processes, including the presidential election, are being delayed and manipulated to maintain his grip on power. While the election is expected to take place in the coming months, no official date has been announced, further fueling uncertainty and suspicion.
Political observers say this latest incident reflects the fragile state of Somalia’s federal politics, where regional administrations often face accusations of using state power to suppress dissent. The confrontation between opposition lawmakers and the South West president mirrors similar struggles seen in other federal member states, where competition for influence has at times disrupted cooperation with Mogadishu.
The blocked lawmakers said they intend to hold a press conference in Mogadishu to publicly address the issue and share more details about the incident. They also plan to outline their position on the political future of South West state and the reforms they believe are needed to ensure fair and transparent elections.
For many residents and observers, the situation highlights the broader challenge of building inclusive governance across Somalia’s regions. With elections approaching and tensions high, the handling of opposition voices and fair access to political participation will likely shape the credibility of upcoming state and national votes.