Former South West State President denies Al-Shabaab links

Former South West State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen has rejected allegations from the Somali federal government linking his regional Darawish forces to the militant group Al-Shabaab.

In a statement, Laftagareen characterized the Darawish as legally constituted security forces responsible for protecting civilians and constitutional order. He warned that making such claims without independent verification could endanger security personnel and civilians, while also undermining public confidence in the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).

Laftagareen urged the African Union and AUSSOM to maintain political neutrality and avoid becoming entangled in Somalia’s internal political disputes between the federal government and member states. He emphasized that political disagreements should be resolved through dialogue and constitutional mechanisms rather than military force, which he cautioned could lead to increased violence, displacement, and social division.