Abdiaziz Laftagareen (Cabdicasiis Laftagareen)

Who is he?

Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed, known as Laftagareen, is a Somali politician (Wikipedia, Abdiaziz Laftagareen). He was the fourth President of South West State, one of Somalia's federal member states, from 19 December 2018 to 30 March 2026 (same source). This page records events without taking sides.

Early life

He was born in Beled Hawo, in the Gedo region, in 1970 (Wikipedia). He went to school in Luuq district, where he later worked as a teacher (same source). He studied at a university in Mogadishu (same source).

Federal posts

In 2007 he was deputy general manager of Mogadishu Port (Wikipedia). In 2008 he became Minister of Labour and Social Affairs (same source). In 2009 and 2010 he served as Minister of Transport and Maritime Affairs, then Minister of Livestock (same source). He later held posts for posts and telecommunications, information, fisheries, trade, and energy and water (same source). He also ran for Speaker of Parliament (same source).

President of South West State

The state assembly elected him on 19 December 2018 (Wikipedia). He received 101 votes, against 22 for Aden Mohamed Nur Saransor (same source). The International Crisis Group described the vote as controversial (Crisis Group, December 2018). He signed the South West State Development Plan for 2021 to 2025 (Wikipedia). Wikipedia notes he had close ties with President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo (same source).

The 2026 dispute

His administration opposed constitutional amendments backed by the federal government (Al Jazeera, 31 March 2026). Al Jazeera reports that the amendments extended the president's term by a year and changed power-sharing under the 2012 provisional constitution (Al Jazeera, 17 August 2026). In March 2026 his administration said it was cutting ties with the federal government (Al Jazeera, 31 March 2026). The state then re-elected him for five years (same source). The federal government said the vote was illegal (same source).

On 30 March 2026 federal forces entered Baidoa and took control of the city (same source). That day he posted that he had "resigned from the position of President of Southwest State" (same source). Finance Minister Ahmed Mohamed Hussein was named acting president (same source). The federal Information Minister said the government was committed to "no persecution or retaliation" (same source). He moved to Nairobi (Wikipedia).

Fighting around Baidoa

Fighters loyal to him tried to retake the state in May 2026 (Al Jazeera, 17 August 2026). On 17 August 2026 fighting broke out again in Baidoa (same source). The Defence Ministry said his fighters attacked federal positions alongside al-Shabaab, and that 30 attackers were killed (same source). His camp said its forces had "captured the city centre" (same source). Al Jazeera notes neither claim was independently confirmed (same source). The army said it pushed the fighters out after hours of fighting (same source). See the timeline from 2012 to 2026.

In short

A teacher from Gedo who held several federal ministries, led South West State for over seven years and resigned in March 2026 after federal forces took Baidoa.