(09 June 2025) MOGADISHU (Halqabsi News) – A prominent Somali member of parliament has announced he will not seek re-election, citing his frustration with a powerless legislature and vowing instead to focus on fighting Al-Shabaab militants in his home region.
Speaking to constituents in the Middle Shabelle region over the weekend, Osman Xaadoole declared he was “done with being an MP,” saying he had gained nothing but “headaches” from the role. He criticised the lack of authority afforded to lawmakers, noting that they were often sidelined by the executive branch.
“Even the ministers we approve don’t give us time,” he said. “I want to be in a position where I can wake up in the morning and decide what needs to be done, that’s not what an MP can do.”
Mr Xaadoole said he would now dedicate himself to confronting the extremist group, which has increased its activity in the area. “Kabakutukade [a senior al-Shabaab figure] cannot enslave our people, we are entering this war,” he declared, vowing to mobilise local clan fighters for the cause.
The announcement is a rare public departure from parliamentary ambition in Somalia and highlights a growing frustration among some politicians with the perceived weakness of the legislature in tackling the country’s deep-rooted security crisis.
Halqabsi News
