Tuesday December 27, 2022
Baidoa (HOL) - A group of Southwest regional state lawmakers blamed the federal government for clashes in Baidoa late last week between state security forces and militia loyal to opposition candidates.
The lawmakers claimed that the National Army Forces were being used to foment unrest in the Southwest and demanded that the federal government troops be redirected to the frontlines.
The group added that the Southwest parliament did not extend the President's term, but they did harmonize the President's and parliament's mandates.
Regional lawmakers urged the federal government to halt interfering in local political affairs.
At least ten people were killed in a gun battle between South West State forces and militias loyal to opposition candidates in Baidoa early Friday morning.
Recently, a political firestorm has been brewing in Baidoa between the incumbent President Abdiaziz Laftagareen and opposition candidates.
In 2019, Southwest parliament extended President Abdiaziz Laftagaren's term for one year, pushing his mandate expiry to December 19, 2023. However, the opposition opposed the President's term extension.