Mogadishu (WDN) –In a rare public statement, former Somali Prime Minister and presidential candidate Abdi Farah Shirdon “Saacid” has issued the nature of the discussions that he held with Villa Somalia, revealing deepening mistrust and distortion of facts at the highest levels of Somali politics.

In a statement posted on his official Facebook page, Mr. Saacid confirmed that during a private meeting with the president and Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, they addressed critical national challenges—including the disputed electoral process and the faltering constitutional reform initiative.

“I emphasized to the leadership that Somalia’s political and security crisis must be solved through unity, consultation, and consensus,” Saacid said, striking a tone of inclusion. “The Somali people must be involved in shaping the future. This is not a one-man show.”

He went on to stress that decisions about elections, constitutional amendments, and national security must be founded on mutual agreement and genuine dialogue—an implicit rebuke to what many perceive as unilateral moves by the current administration.

However, Villa Somalia painted a markedly different picture.

In a statement issued shortly after the meeting, the presidency claimed the dialogue revolved around general state-building and strengthening security with no mention of the electoral disagreements or calls for inclusive policymaking emphasized by Saacid.

“The President met with former Prime Minister Saacid as part of his ongoing consultations with national figures,” read the Villa Somalia communique. “The meeting focused on security, state-building, and support for our heroic armed forces.”

That version, Saacid’s camp suggests, was a deliberate mischaracterization aimed at softening the political stakes of the conversation—particularly the contentious issue of constitutional legitimacy and election management, which remain flashpoints in the country.

The former Prime Minister’s warning comes as the security situation deteriorates rapidly.

In a hard-hitting speech prior to the meeting, Saacid raised alarm over the visible resurgence of Al-Shabaab in and around the capital. He cited the group’s growing presence in Ex-Control Balad and Ex-Control Afgoye, strategic entry points to Mogadishu, and warned that the government’s current military strategy is failing to prevent further encroachment.

“I spent only a few days in Mogadishu, but it is obvious: Al-Shabaab is at the gates. This war plan is not working. It must change—urgently.”

With major districts slipping back into insurgent hands and security forces stretched thin, pressure is mounting on the federal government to shift course—both militarily and politically.

Saacid’s comments are likely to resonate with an increasingly anxious public and may further complicate President Hassan Sheikh’s already fragile relations with opposition candidates and federal member states.

WardheerNews