Tuesday 10,June 2025 {HMC} The commander of Somalia’s Ma’awisley community defense forces, Ali Jeyte Osman, has called on President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to overhaul the leadership of the Hirshabelle regional administration, accusing officials of neglecting the fight against al-Shabab.
Speaking at a press conference Monday, Jeyte criticized Hirshabelle President Ali Gudlaawe Hussein and his deputy for their absence during key moments in the conflict. He claimed their international travel has contributed to poor coordination in military operations and a lack of basic public services in the region, including education and healthcare.
Jeyte said the federal government must intervene by either replacing the regional leadership—whose mandate he claims has expired—or appointing new governors for Middle Shabelle and Hiiraan regions if constitutional changes cannot be implemented quickly.
He also addressed the ongoing clan-based violence in Hiiraan, calling for urgent justice and reconciliation efforts. “The inter-clan fighting must stop immediately,” he said. “People are demanding justice, and their grievances must be addressed.”
The Ma’awisley forces, largely composed of local militias supporting the national army, have played a key role in resisting al-Shabab in central Somalia.
Al-Shabab, an extremist group affiliated with al-Qaida, has waged a violent insurgency in Somalia for more than 15 years. It is designated a terrorist organization by the Somali government, the United Nations, the United States, and the African Union. The group continues to carry out deadly attacks, including suicide bombings and assassinations targeting civilians, government officials, and security forces.
