Somalia’s president clears field for ally in Southwest leadership race
MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Saturday persuaded one of the leading contenders in the race for Southwest state president to withdraw, bolstering the prospects of Adan Mohamed Nur, who is now widely expected to become the region’s next leader as authorities in Mogadishu shape the conditions for an uncontested outcome in […]
Black News 
MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Saturday persuaded one of the leading contenders in the race for Southwest state president to withdraw, bolstering the prospects of Adan Mohamed Nur, who is now widely expected to become the region’s next leader as authorities in Mogadishu shape the conditions for an uncontested outcome in an upcoming vote.
The president appeared publicly shaking hands with both the parliamentary speaker, widely known as Adan Madobe, and his longtime ally Hussein Sheikh Mohamud. Hussein Sheikh Mohamud, previously considered a strong candidate, subsequently withdrew from the race.
All three men belong to the ruling Justice and Solidarity Party. Mohamud is backing Madobe, who helped steer through parliament the ratification of controversial constitutional amendments, a move widely seen by observers as earning him the president’s support.
The federal government has promised to hold a free and fair one-person, one-vote election in the region. That pledge, however, has been cast into doubt by the president’s direct involvement, including efforts to limit competition within his own party and clear the field for Madobe.
Other influential ruling party figures have also been persuaded not to run. Ports Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur and Religious Affairs Minister Mukhtar Robow were among those who held back their ambitions after being encouraged to step aside.
Analysts say a free and fair vote in Baidoa is unlikely. The federal government seized control of the region by military force last month and continues to exercise broad authority, with no independent electoral commission in place to oversee the process. Few powerful politicians are willing to participate, reinforcing expectations of a noncompetitive outcome.
The Somali government has also been reported for weeks to be planning a major cabinet reshuffle. That process now appears delayed, as attention shifts to Southwest state, where authorities are focused on installing a loyal regional leader before proceeding with broader changes.
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