Mogadishu, Somalia – In a political escalation that threatens to plunge Somalia into a highly dangerous phase, opposition leader Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame launched a scathing attack on President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. He accused the president of preparing to resort to violence to ensure his continued hold on power beyond May 2026. Warsame also warned that the current tensions could drag the country into a dark tunnel of instability.
“The president is synonymous with the state.”
In a strongly worded statement, Warsame asserted that the Somali president now treats himself as “synonymous with the state.” This perception, the opposition leader argues, seriously undermines the rule of law and the democratic process. He also accused the president of blatant constitutional violations, specifically citing the appointment of a member of parliament to a ministerial post, a move he claimed contravenes legal restrictions prohibiting the consolidation of legislative and executive powers.
Regional conflicts and political pressure
Wossam’s criticisms weren’t limited to the capital; they extended to the federal government’s relationship with regional leaders. He pointed to a rift and fundamental disagreements with prominent leaders such as Abdulaziz Hassan Mohamed (Laftagareen) and Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Madubie). He claimed that the presidential palace was employing a policy of “military force and political pressure” as its sole means of managing federal disputes, instead of engaging in dialogue.
Failure to manage national files
Domestically, the opposition leader sharply criticized the government for its failure to hold local council elections in Mogadishu. He also spoke of “systematic mismanagement” of public lands. Furthermore, he held the government responsible for the economic decline, emphasizing the lack of any effective response to pressing crises, most notably the recurring droughts, soaring fuel prices, and the rising cost of living that has burdened citizens. He concluded his statement with an existential warning, asserting that the current political trajectory is reproducing the failures that previously led to the collapse of central government. Therefore, he called on Somalis and all stakeholders to take urgent action to protect the fragile institutions before the country reaches the point of no return.
