BELEDWEYNE — The Vice President of Hirshabelle State, Yusuf Ahmed Hagar Dabageed, has rejected plans to hold elections in Beledweyne, saying no election can take place in Hiiraan until outstanding political and administrative issues are resolved.
In a statement issued from Beledweyne, Dabageed said the decision followed a meeting held on September 30 by elders from Hiiraan, who he said agreed that the electoral process should not proceed without addressing the concerns raised by the region.
The vice president argued that the electoral process announced for Beledweyne does not have sufficient political and community consensus. He also said Hiiraan has historically faced disputes with the Hirshabelle administration and that these issues must be addressed before any election can be conducted.
Dabageed warned that proceeding with the process without resolving the disagreements could deepen political tensions between Hiiraan and the Hirshabelle administration.
He called for dialogue involving political leaders, traditional elders and other stakeholders to reach a peaceful solution. He said Hirshabelle’s future should be based on political reconciliation, mutual understanding and broad public participation.
The statement comes amid continuing political disagreements over elections and governance in Hirshabelle, particularly in Hiiraan, where local leaders and communities have repeatedly raised concerns about the region’s political status and representation.
