Sunday September 3, 2023
Mahas (HOL) - A delegation led by Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud arrived in the Mahas district in the Hiiraan region on Sunday to accelerate the ongoing military operations against al-Shabab in the Hirshabelle and Galmudug States.
During his stay in Mahas, President Hassan Sheikh will hold various meetings with security officials, traditional elders, and the two factions of the Hiiraan administration. He will meet with the former Hiiraan governor, Ali Jeyte Osman, and the currently appointed governor, Abdullahi Ahmed Maalin Sufurow, to resolve their political differences and refocus on the operations.
The President, who has been leading the operation in Dhusamareb town for a month, emphasized that the fight against terrorism will persist until it is eradicated from the country.
The President's arrival coincides with a political conflict between Ali Jeyte and the leadership of Hirshabelle State, represented by Ali Hussein Guudlawe. Additionally, Abdullahi Ahmed Maalin Sufurow, the designated governor of the Hiiraan region, has yet to assume office two months after his official appointment.
Meanwhile, Jeyte has refused to step down and has reportedly been elected by residents as the interim President of the Hiiraan State—an administration that the Federal government does not recognize.