Hirshabelle Deputy President Abdifatah Hassan Afrah has travelled to Beledweyne to meet local clan elders and armed community members as political tensions grow over the regional administration’s presence in the town.
Speaking to media on Friday, Afrah said there was no personal hostility among the armed groups in the city. He described his visit as an effort to persuade his constituency, listen to their concerns, and reach an understanding that could ease the political standoff
Afrah, a former Hiiraan regional governor , was elected Deputy President in late October 2026 alongside President Ali Abdullahi Hussein Guudlaawe. Both ran on the Justice and Solidarity Party (JSP) ticket in a parliamentary vote held in Jowhar. The election has faced strong rejection from traditional elders and political figures in Beledweyne, who argue it lacked inclusive agreement and failed to address long-standing power-sharing grievances dating to Hirshabelle’s formation.
The dispute has taken on a security dimension. Armed Macawiisley community fighters have mobilised in the city, and former National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) director Abdullahi Mohamed Ali Sanbaloolshe has returned with an armed convoy, backing calls for a separate Hiiraan administration. Reports circulating in local media indicated gunfire broke out in Beledweyne following the arrival of Afrah and related movements, though the full extent and any casualties remained unclear as the situation developed.
Afrah’s presence is seen by some observers as an attempt to bridge the divide, given his shared clan background with the main opposition base. He has previously acknowledged that the disagreements require gradual engagement among residents, elders, and stakeholders rather than rapid resolution. The broader security environment in Hiiraan also includes ongoing Al-Shabaab activity in surrounding areas, which has been complicated by the diversion of some local fighters into the political confrontation.
The federal government and Hirshabelle administration have not yet issued a detailed joint statement on the latest developments in Beledweyne. Local sources continue to monitor the situation closely amid fears of further escalation.
Mustaqbal
