The African Union (AU) is sounding the alarm over escalating tensions in Somalia, urging leaders to ‘choose dialogue over division’ amid a heated political standoff. The conflict, which has sparked troop movements and disrupted flights, centers on recent constitutional changes approved by Somalia’s parliament in March 2026.
At the heart of the drama? A controversial shift to direct parliamentary elections, sidelining the clan-based system that’s shaped Somali politics for decades. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s extended term under these reforms has drawn fierce pushback from South West State leader Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed (aka Laftagareen), who claims the changes ‘ignore regional voices’.
Things reached boiling point when the federal government declared Laftagareen’s mandate expired—a move South West State called ‘unconstitutional interference’. With both sides trading accusations of militia arming and governance meddling, the AU’s warning comes as clashes erupt in the Bay region and flights between Baidoa and Mogadishu grind to a halt.
AU Commission Chair Mahmoud Ali Youssouf put it bluntly: ‘Somalia’s stability hangs in the balance. We need cool heads and hot coffee at the negotiation table—now.’ The AU is doubling down on support for Somalia’s unity, but with the clock ticking, will rival factions heed the call? 🕒☕
