Baidoa (WDN) – Former Southwest State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed (Laftagareen) has struck another symbolic blow in the escalating power struggle over the leadership of Southwest State by reclaiming control of the regional presidency’s official website, raising fresh questions about the authority and institutional grip of the new administration led by Adan Mohamed Nur (Adan Madobe).

In a dramatic move, Laftagareen’s camp removed all articles, photographs, and videos related to the current administration from the official Southwest State Presidency website, effectively erasing its digital footprint since the change of leadership in Baidoa.

The website was immediately restored to reflect Laftagareen’s administration, beginning with an Independence Day message congratulating the Somali people on July 1, the anniversary of Somalia’s independence and the union of the former British Somaliland and Italian Somaliland.

“I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the Somali people on the historic occasion of July 1—the day marking our independence and the union of the northern and southern regions of Somalia,” the statement posted on the restored website read.

The symbolic takeover did not end there. The website also published a video message from Laftagareen’s spokesman, Ugaas Hassan Abdi Mohamed, speaking from the outskirts of Baidoa, where forces loyal to the former president have established their base.

In the address, the spokesman vowed that Laftagareen’s campaign to regain control of Southwest State would continue until his forces returned to Baidoa. “Our blessed struggle will not stop, and victory is inevitable. Whether it takes a short time or a long one, we are prepared for every circumstance and every battlefield,” he declared.

The latest development underscores the unresolved legitimacy battle that continues to engulf Southwest State months after the leadership transition. While the new administration exercises authority over parts of the regional government, Laftagareen continues to reject its legitimacy, insisting that he remains the state’s lawful president.

Political observers say the loss of control over the presidency’s official digital platforms is more than a symbolic embarrassment—it reflects the fragile institutional position of the current administration. In modern governance, official communication channels are among the most visible instruments of state authority, and the ease with which Laftagareen’s camp reclaimed the presidency’s website has exposed apparent vulnerabilities within the new government’s administrative control.

The incident also highlights the broader challenge facing Southwest State, where rival political camps continue to compete not only for territory but also for the symbols and institutions of government. The struggle has increasingly extended beyond military and political arenas into control of official state assets, public messaging, and institutional legitimacy.

As of publication, the administration led by Adan Madobe had not publicly responded to the seizure of the official presidency website or explained how control of the platform was lost.

Despite the setback, the new administration continues to operate the Southwest State Television network, which remains under its control and continues broadcasting official government activities. The station on Tuesday aired celebrations marking the 66th anniversary of the independence of Somalia’s southern regions and the historic union of North and South, held in Baidoa.

The competing claims over official institutions illustrate that Southwest State’s political crisis remains far from resolved. With rival administrations each asserting legitimacy and exercising control over different state assets, the standoff has become a vivid illustration of the fragmented authority confronting one of Somalia’s key federal member states—and a reminder of the Federal Government’s continuing struggle to secure lasting political stability among its regional partners.

WardheerNews