Mogadishu (WDN)- Somali opposition leader and Member of Parliament, Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame, has launched a scathing attack on the federal government following the fall of the strategic town of Maxaas in the Hiiraan region to the militant group Al-Shabaab. Describing the loss as a “national betrayal,” the MP accused President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of abandoning the anti-terrorism agenda in favor of political manipulation and personal gain.

In a detailed public statement shared on social media, Abdishakur warned that the growing resurgence of Al-Shabaab is a direct result of mismanagement, misplaced priorities, and broken trust between the federal government and the Somali people.

“Maxaas fell on the same day as Moqokori, and Moqokori fell on the same day as Aadan Yabaal,” the MP noted. “The fact that Al-Shabaab is reclaiming areas liberated a year and a half ago is a betrayal of our martyrs and a setback for Somalia as a nation.”

He emphasized that the liberation of towns like Maxaas came at a heavy cost — in lives, resources, and national unity — with international support backing the military campaign. The return of these towns to militant control, he said, represents a collapse of the momentum built by grassroots defense efforts such as the Macawiisley militias.

Abdishakur, a native of Hiiraan and a key proponent of community-led resistance to Al-Shabaab, placed the blame squarely on the president and his administration. He argued that once the federal government took over the Hiiraan offensive, local initiative was stifled, and the people’s trust in government protection was ultimately misplaced.

“The president abandoned the war on terror and replaced it with a personal war: constitutional manipulation, electoral coercion, nepotism, corruption, and reckless governance,” Abdishakur said.

He accused President Hassan Sheikh of isolating himself both domestically and internationally.

“The president has lost the trust of the Somali people and the confidence of our neighbors. Internationally, he is seen as a leader speaking only for himself, not the nation — and whose mandate is nearing its end,” he added.

The MP urged the president to use his remaining time in office to mend political rifts, reconcile with federal member states, and redirect national efforts toward the war on terror — particularly in neglected regions like Gedo.

He also criticized Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre for allowing political vendettas, particularly against Jubaland leader Ahmed Madobe, to overshadow national interests.

“To the president and his team, I say: stop your vendetta against Ahmed Madobe. There is no room for political revenge in constitutional governance,” Abdishakur stated.

In a pointed conclusion, the MP called on President Hassan Sheikh to prepare for a peaceful transfer of power and to prioritize legacy over power.

“Leadership adds nothing to a man and takes nothing away — it only reveals the fabric of his character,” he said.

The fall of Maxaas marks yet another alarming development in Somalia’s ongoing battle against Al-Shabaab, raising serious questions about the federal government’s strategy, commitment, and credibility in the fight to stabilize the country.

WardheerNews