Somalia: Somalia's President Offers HirShabelle Capital to Hiiraan Amid Political Tensions

What the report says

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said in Jowhar that the capital of the HirShabelle regional state would be allocated to Hiiraan region, in an effort to ease political tensions and address complaints from local communities, especially members of the Hawadle clan. The remarks were made on Sunday during the inauguration of HirShabelle’s new leadership, according to Shabelle Media Network as republished by AllAfrica.

Hassan Sheikh said Hiiraan residents had been granted the right to host the regional capital, but that they would need to identify a city where regional officials could live and work. He also urged dissatisfied residents and political groups to stay calm and avoid retaliatory steps, saying their main demand had been acknowledged.

The president said any relocation would still require a formal decision by HirShabelle’s leadership and must follow the regional constitution. The issue is tied to wider disputes over representation and the location of the regional capital within HirShabelle, which includes Hiiraan and Middle Shabelle regions. The article also noted that HirShabelle’s newly appointed vice president, Abdifitah Hassan Afrah, was in Beledweyne holding talks aimed at reducing tensions and opening dialogue with critics of the administration.

If carried out, the move could become a significant test of power-sharing and regional governance in central Somalia, though the article says the process remains at an early stage.