News Desk
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has made an unannounced trip to Jowhar, the interim provincial capital of Hirshabelle State, on Tuesday, causing a stir as he arrived without his regular communications and media personnel.
Given the volatile situation in the town, President Mohamud opted not to enter the town during his visit. Instead, he held meetings with regional authorities at the airport, located outside the town before returning to Mogadishu.
Jowhar, located approximately 90 kilometers north of Mogadishu, has recently witnessed a surge in security incidents, with militants, based on the suburbs of the town carrying out attacks, including mortar shelling.
Accompanied by the Somali Intelligence Chief Mahad Salad and Ibrahim Sheikh Muhyadin, the new Army Chief, President Mohamud’s impromptu trip to the town caught many by surprise, deviating from the standard protocol followed during his official visits.
The news of the President’s presence spread rapidly throughout the town, leaving residents in a state of curiosity.
Eyewitnesses reported heightened security measures, with armed soldiers stationed across Jowhar.
The President’s decision to leave behind his usually-large entourage including his communications and media team has sparked intense speculation among political analysts and citizens alike.
Adding to the mystery and speculations surrounding the President’s visit, the government had instructed the state-run media outlets not to report about the trip, leaving many questioning the motives behind the secrecy.
Some have suggested that the unexpected visit could be linked to sensitive negotiations or secret discussions concerning the region’s political landscape amid growing crisis over the controversial sacking of the anti al-Shabab Hiiraan region’s governor Ali Jeyte by the state’s leader Ali Guudlaawe.
But sources privy with the matter told the Horn Examiner that during their meeting, President Mohamud has expressed full support for the state leader in his challenge against Mr. Jeyte, a development that many believe could potentially exacerbate the already tense political crisis.
Jeyte who had garnered widespread acclaim for his leadership in orchestrating the first public uprising against the extremist organization al-Shabab in Somalia has since opposed the sacking and denounced it as ‘unlawful’.
This historic local uprising resulted in al-Shabab’s ouster from a significant portion of the Hiiraan region, a remarkable achievement that earned Jeyte immense recognition from Somalis and the international community.
Jeyte’s removal has raised concerns that it could hinder the ongoing military operations against al-Shabab. He has since been elected as the interim president of a newly formed separate regional administration known as Hiiraan State, which declared its independence from Hirshabelle State.
Both the President’s office and the government have remained tight-lipped regarding the details of the trip. Calls made by the Horn Examiner seeking comment on the visit went unanswered.
Facebook Comments