BELEDWEYNE — Former National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) chief Abdullahi Mohamed Ali Sanbaloolshe has praised a peaceful demonstration in Beledweyne opposing the planned Hirshabelle election.
Sanbaloolshe commended lawmakers, politicians, traditional elders, women, youth and other community members who took part in the protest, describing their participation as an expression of public concerns over the electoral process.
“Your voice has reached Somalis and the rest of the world,” Sanbaloolshe said in remarks following the demonstration. He urged protesters to maintain patience, unity and resilience in pursuing their demands.
He also praised residents of Hiiraan for expressing their position peacefully, saying their participation demonstrated their opposition to what they regard as political injustice.
Hundreds of residents, politicians, lawmakers and traditional elders reportedly gathered in Beledweyne on Thursday, calling for a political agreement before elections proceed in Hiiraan.
The demonstration followed consultations among Hawadle politicians and traditional elders, who have opposed holding elections in Hiiraan without a broader agreement on political representation and power-sharing within Hirshabelle.
Protesters carried messages opposing an electoral process they said lacked sufficient local consensus. Federal lawmakers and former regional officials also addressed the gathering and called for dialogue over the disputed electoral arrangements.
The dispute comes amid wider political tensions surrounding Hirshabelle’s electoral process and disagreements between local stakeholders and Somalia’s federal authorities.
The next steps will depend on ongoing political consultations and whether the parties can reach an agreement on the electoral process in Hiiraan.
