Ma’awisley commander urges shake-up of Hirshabelle leadership over al-Shabab fight

Ma’awisley commander urges shake-up of Hirshabelle leadership over al-Shabab fight

In a fiery press conference, Commander Ali Jeyte Osman of the Ma’awisley defense forces broke the silence many feared to speak. His message was clear: Somalia’s war against Al-Shabab is being sabotaged — not by lack of will from its fighters, but by the absence of its leaders.

He accused Hirshabelle’s President Ali Gudlaawe and his deputy of failing to lead, traveling abroad while their people face bullets and bombs. “We’re fighting terrorists while our leaders fly business class,” he said.

The Ma’awisley forces, composed of brave local militias, have been critical in halting Al-Shabab’s grip in central Somalia. Yet, they do so with minimal support, facing not just extremists, but also an administration that, according to Jeyte, has “outlived its mandate.”

He demanded either constitutional reforms or immediate replacement of ineffective governors in Middle Shabelle and Hiiraan. He also urged for justice in clan-based violence tearing Hiiraan apart.

His words echo far beyond the press room. They speak to a nation exhausted by corruption, silence, and war.