Dabaged denies reports of a fall-out with Gudlawe and Villa Somalia links

The VP made clear that the election of Beledweyne will be fair and free, ruling out that there will be seats reserved for particular candidates, mainly those backed by president Farmajo and Fahad Yasin.

News Keydmedia Online
10 March 2022

MOGADISHU, Somalia – The vice president of HirShabelle Yusuf Dabaged broke the silence after reports emerged that he was in a standoff with President Gudlawe over the election of 11 Lower House seats.

Speaking to VOA Somali Service, Dabaged described the claims as ‘baseless’ and made clear that he has no link with Villa Somalia’s plot to hijack the election of the seats in Beledweyne for its loyalists.

“I and president Gudlawe has not had any dispute during the past one and half year in office. We have good cooperation and the president has the power and final decision of the regional state,” said Dabaged.

The VP made clear that the election of Beledweyne will be fair and free, ruling out that there will be seats reserved for particular candidates, mainly those backed by president Farmajo and Fahad Yasin.

In December of last year, Dabaged who is a former warlord in the Hiran region promised that there won’t be any contest but rather a selection where the process is rigged to produce pro-Villa Somalia lawmakers.

Although Yusuf Dabaged denied his feud with Gudlawe, there is a bitter dispute over the election of 11 Lower House seats in Beledweyne that sparked a deadly clash this week between SNA and clan militia.

Sources within HirShabelle state confirmed to Keydmedia English that Gudlawe wants an open election as he ignored Farmaajo's demands to block opposition candidates from running parliamentary elections.

The former Somali education minister Abdullahi Godah Barre and ex-spy director Abdullahi Sanbalolshe, who are fierce critics of Farmajo are among dozens of candidates seeking to join the 11th parliament.

KEYDMEDIA English