MOGADISHU, (HAN) — Somali former lawmaker Mohamed Hassan Ibrahim Qoono, one of the few parliamentarians to have served under four Somali presidents, announced his bid for the presidency of Hirshabelle State on Tuesday, amid rising political tensions and renewed calls for reform.
Qoono, who has served in Parliament for nearly 16 years, including during former President Mohamed Abdullahi “Farmaajo”’s administration, is widely recognized for his long-standing commitment to public service.
Sources close to Qoono say his political career has focused on youth empowerment, expanding education, and creating employment opportunities across his constituency.
According to information obtained by Horn Africa News, Qoono confirmed he will contest the upcoming Hirshabelle presidential election. His announcement comes as the state continues to grapple with political infighting, weak governance, and persistent corruption since its establishment in 2016.
Formed during President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s first term, Hirshabelle has faced ongoing disputes — particularly from communities in the Hiiraan region — over power-sharing arrangements and resource distribution.
Political analysts say Qoono’s entry into the race reflects growing frustration among residents who believe the state’s formation framework must be revisited to ensure fair representation.
“The people of Hiiraan have never fully accepted how Hirshabelle was built. There’s now a strong sense that the time has come to fix the power-sharing imbalance and rebuild trust,” a political observer in Mogadishu told Horn Africa News.
Somali elder Abdi Jamal added, “If politician Qoono is elected president of Hirshabelle, he will become the ‘Qoorqoor of Hirshabelle,’ since, like Galmudug before Qoorqoor’s leadership, the state has been a failed administration similar to Hirshabelle.”
Hirshabelle, comprising the Hiiraan and Middle Shabelle regions, is often described as Somalia’s weakest federal member state, lagging behind Puntland, Jubbaland, South West, and Galmudug in terms of development, governance, and security.
Critics attribute this stagnation to administrative failures, fund mismanagement, and entrenched corruption, with much of the state’s aid and revenue reportedly diverted from public use.
Supporters of Qoono say his national political experience and record of community service make him a credible candidate capable of restoring stability and transparency to Hirshabelle’s leadership.
If elected, Qoono has pledged to prioritize improving security, combating corruption, and strengthening relations between Hirshabelle and the federal government.
