Sunday, July 6, 2025
Mogadishu – (Horn Africa News) – The State Minister for Affairs of the Federal Government of Somalia, Mr. Ali Omar Bal’ad, has strongly spoken out about the election held today in Balcad district, issuing sharp criticism of the Hirshabelle administration, particularly its President, Ali Gudlawe.
Ali Omar Bal’ad described the election as a so-called election, held at an inappropriate time and in violation of previous agreements and the country’s laws.
He expressed his regret that the Hirshabelle administration is preoccupied with organizing an outdated indirect election instead of participating in preparations for the one-person, one-vote elections that the federal government is committed to.
“It is deeply unfortunate that, at a time when the country is preparing for an inclusive election and voter registration is underway — with the Presidents of Galmudug and South West State lining up to register for the one-person, one-vote election — Ali Gudlawe’s Hirshabelle administration is busy conducting an indirect election whose time has passed,” Ali Balcad stated.
The State Minister described today’s election in Bal’ad district as illegal and a breach of agreements previously reached by the electoral committees as well as national laws passed by the federal institutions. He warned that this move risks sparking disputes, political tensions, and inter-clan clashes that could undermine regional stability.
Finally, Ali Bal’ad called on Ali Guudlaawe to follow the example of his colleagues — Galmudug’s President Ahmed Qor-Qor and South West State’s President Abdiaziz Laftagaren — who are fully engaged in preparing for the one-person, one-vote elections endorsed by all stakeholders.
However, Hirshabelle is indeed a controversial administration, criticized for being ineffective, corrupt, and having made no progress during its existence.
Political analysts and many justice-loving ones said. “ Hiiraan people whose name Hirshabelle is derived from, are not satisfied with its structure, and see it as one that was imposed on them.”
