Against all sensible advice, the Federal Government of Somalia muscled in on a local election to shove aside an Islamist conservative candidate.
- Rashid Abdi
- ICG
It scored a tactical victory but created significant additional risk for the country already wracked by conflict and divided along regional and clan lines.
On 19 December, local lawmakers in Somalia’s restive South West state elected Abdiasis Mohammed “Laftagareen” president in a controversial poll that is certain to sow new instability.
Laftagareen, former MP and Minister, would not have won without the…