(29-06-23) MOGADISHU — Ali Jeyte Osman, the interim president of the newly established Hiiraan State administration, has declined an invitation from Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to visit Mogadishu for a private conversation, sources close to Jeyte revealed to Halqabsi News.
The president’s invitation came amidst escalating political tension in the Hiiraan region, following Jeyte’s removal from the governorship, a position that has since been bestowed on Abdullahi Ahmed Maalin, commonly known as Sufuroow.
Jeyte, whose dismissal was denounced as ‘unlawful’, was subsequently elected as the president of Hiiraan State by local communities and officials.
However, this apparent show of solidarity towards Jeyte has been overshadowed by his refusal to meet with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, citing fears that the central government could detain him in Mogadishu, particularly at the Aden Adde airport, if the discussions failed to yield satisfactory results.
According to reliable sources close to Jeyte, he views the president’s invitation as a calculated move to destabilise his nascent regional administration, thereby creating a power vacuum that could be exploited by Sufuroow, the newly appointed governor of Hiiraan.
Tensions between Jeyte and the president of Hirshabelle State, Ali Guudlaawe, who sanctioned the appointment of Sufuroow, have escalated to an all-time high, causing profound divisions amongst local communities and exacerbating regional power dynamics.
Jeyte’s concerns extend beyond a potential power grab by his rival. He is also wary of a potential arrest upon his arrival in Mogadishu, which would undoubtedly play into his adversaries’ hands.
