Baidia(Mogadishu24)-Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre is continuing his diplomatic efforts in Baidoa for the second day, seeking to mediate a conflict between the Federal Government of Somalia and the Southwest State administration.
This comes after protests in Hudur city, Bakool region, two weeks ago, where residents expressed support for the presence of Ethiopian troops and opposed the future deployment of Egyptian forces under the upcoming African Union mission in Somalia.
The protests, which were backed by 25 members of the Federal Parliament, sparked controversy in Mogadishu, with some parliamentarians labeling those who supported the demonstrations as treasonous for allegedly serving Ethiopia’s interests.
A motion was subsequently introduced in parliament to strip the 25 MPs of their immunity, leading to widespread disruptions and delaying parliamentary sessions for over a week.
Southwest State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed 'Lafta-gareen' returned to Baidoa from Nairobi earlier this week and condemned the offensive comments made against Hudur's residents. He described the criticisms as an attack on federalism and Somalia’s ongoing state-building efforts.
"You did nothing wrong. You expressed your views about the reality on the ground. Those who offended you committed shameful acts against our unity and statehood," Lafta-gareen stated, offering his support to the people of Hudur.
Prime Minister Barre’s visit is seen as an attempt to ease the tensions and strengthen cooperation between the federal government and Southwest State.
According to the Prime Minister’s office, he and President Lafta-gareen have held discussions overnight, focusing on accelerating operations against Al-Shabaab, addressing political and security issues, and promoting economic development in the region.
However, no details have been provided regarding whether the conflict surrounding the preference for Ethiopian or Egyptian troops has been resolved.
On Thursday, Barre chaired a meeting of the Southwest State ministerial council in Baidoa, focusing on improving critical services in the region, enhancing security, and strengthening the political and economic collaboration between the state and federal government.
The meeting also emphasized the urgency of intensifying efforts in the fight against Al-Shabaab.
It remains unclear how long Prime Minister Barre’s visit to Baidoa will last and whether the two sides will reach a definitive agreement to address the current tensions.
His visit comes as Somalia faces broader political challenges, with the National Consultative Council’s meeting facing delays due to strained relations between the federal government and some federal member states, particularly Puntland.
Baidoa, the administrative capital of the Southwest State, is currently hosting the largest delegation as efforts to resolve these pressing issues continue.