Once again, on same day, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud roots for the aggressor, both in Laascaanood and in Barawe. In the just concluded 14th Session of the IGAD Assembly of Heads of State, President Hassan instead of pointing out the aggression of Somaliland, he just urged what he called ‘the warring parties in Las Anod’ to resolve their ‘differences through discussion and dialogue,’ a codeword meant to convey that SSC-Khatumo is part of Somaliland, while deliberately ignoring last week’s UN Security Council (UNSC) call for Somaliland to immediately withdraw its troops from the Sool region.
On the developing but also deadly situation in Barawe, the capital city of South West State of Somalia, as usual President Hassan ignored it just like he does on Laascaanood. But in Djibouti, the Somali National Army (SNA) was on the President’s mind, where he called for the lifting of arms embargo on FGS.
Meanwhile, in coastal Barawe, battalions who claim to be SNA soldiers are attacking local security forces. But in reality they are clan militias from the President’s tribe. These clan militias are attacking South West State of Somalia local security forces to stay or lay claim on farmland and properties that don’t belong to them. SW security forces are opposed to the claims of the ‘SNA’ clan militia, and as such they are attacked for keeping the peace and securing public and private properties.
Bothered by the President’s silence, FGS MPs from the South West State of Somalia accuse President
Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of arming clan militias from his tribe and presenting them as part of the Somali National Army (SNA). They accuse the president’s tribal militia of undermining the stability in Barawe, the capital city of SW State.
FGS MPs from South West State of Somalia accuse President @HassanSMohamud of arming clan militias from his tribe and presenting them as part of the Somali National Army (SNA). The MPs accuse the president's tribal militia of undermining the stability in Barawe, the capital city… https://t.co/H87QSRsLHk pic.twitter.com/dVpokNRrBr
— Daljir Media (@radiodaljir) June 13, 2023
The MPs also accuse ATMIS Somalia of helping out the clan militias by handing them control of the airport, and also handing over a wounded SW soldier to same clan militias, who then immediately proceeded to shoot him dead on the spot.
With all that in mind, at the conclusion of IGAD meeting in Djibouti, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud requested the lifting of the arms embargo on Somalia’s SNA, the same clan militia masquerading as SNA in Barawe and parts of Lower Shabeelle. In the Barawe attack, 13 SNA clan militias of the president’s clan and 3 SW dervishes were reportedly killed, including the second in command of the ‘SNA’ (clan militia) battalion in Barawe. Both sides are now gearing up for another showdown and a deadly confrontation. Meanwhile, al-Shabaab watches from the sidelines.
It has been the norm for clan wars to rage during President Hassan’s first term, and by all indications, this term will be no different, as clan wars now rage in Mudug between ‘Sheikhaal’ and ‘Dir’ clans, and in Baraawe and Lower Shabelle between the locals and the Habargidir group of Hawiye clans.
Daljir Media | Contributed to by Daljir staff reporters in Baidoa, Barawe and Mogadishu
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