Loading article content...
Loading article content...
BELETWEYNE, 15 November 2026 — Somali federal lawmaker Abdullahi Mohamed Ali Sanbaloolshe has called for residents of Hiiraan to be given a vote on Hirshabelle's leadership.
Sanbaloolshe, a former director of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), was addressing a demonstration in Beledweyne on Sunday.
He said a public vote would provide a means of determining the wishes of local communities, drawing comparisons with Britain's referendum on leaving the European Union.
He noted that former British Prime Minister David Cameron accepted the outcome of the Brexit referendum and resigned after voters backed withdrawal from the EU.
The lawmaker argued that Somali political leaders should similarly respect the wishes of the communities they represent rather than allowing leadership decisions to be determined through appointments lacking public consent.
He criticised what he described as decisions concerning Hirshabelle's administration being made in Mogadishu, insisting that local communities should have a say in choosing their leadership.
Sanbaloolshe stressed that his political position did not mean he wanted to undermine Somalia's state institutions, but rather that he was seeking a governance system based on the will of the people.
Related articles
Addressing demonstrators, he said the steps taken by his supporters so far had been peaceful and that they intended to continue pursuing their objectives through non-violent means.
He called for patience, compromise and unity, saying their political efforts required perseverance, compassion and sacrifice.
The lawmaker also said several federal parliamentarians representing Hiiraan were present in Beledweyne and stood alongside the paramount traditional leader of the Hawadle clan, Ugaas Yusuf Ugaas Hassan Ugaas Khalif.
He urged other politicians who continued to support the Hirshabelle leadership arrangements opposed by his group to reconsider their positions.
Sanbaloolshe's remarks came during a demonstration previously called by the Hawadle traditional leader to protest the Hirshabelle leadership election held in Jowhar on 24 Oct., in which President Ali Abdullahi Hussein Gudlawe was re-elected and Abdifatah Hassan Afrah was elected vice-president.
Hawadle traditional leaders and allied politicians have rejected the results, arguing that the process lacked sufficient consultation over Hiiraan's political representation.