Political tensions have intensified within Somalia’s Northeastern State as President Abdulkadir Ahmed Aw-Ali Firdhiye and Vice President Abdirashid Yusuf Jibril Abwaan face growing disagreements that have now spilled into Parliament.
The dispute has placed the two leaders at the centre of a struggle for political influence, with lawmakers increasingly divided between the camps of the president and his deputy as the regional administration approaches a crucial parliamentary session.
Sources from both sides said the immediate contest is now focused on Parliament, which is scheduled to convene on Saturday, with each camp seeking to determine whether the sitting will proceed.
Neither side is currently understood to have secured the 56 parliamentary votes required to remove the other from office, leaving the political standoff centred on control of the legislature rather than an immediate vote of no confidence.
The situation has also raised questions over whether lawmakers will be able to conduct normal parliamentary business amid the divisions within the administration.
Parliament becomes centre of dispute
The latest developments have turned Parliament into the main arena for the political confrontation.
Members of the regional legislature are reportedly split between supporters of Firdhiye and those aligned with Abwaan, creating uncertainty over the ability of the House to convene and conduct its business.
Recent reports have linked the disagreement to differences between the two leaders over the exercise of executive powers, consultations within the administration and the division of responsibilities between the president and vice president.
The dispute has also reportedly contributed to delays in parliamentary proceedings, further increasing pressure on lawmakers as Saturday’s session approaches.
Neither camp has required majority
Sources familiar with the political situation said neither Firdhiye nor Abwaan currently has the 56 votes required to remove the other from office.
That has shifted attention towards efforts to build a parliamentary majority before the House convenes.
The struggle is therefore not necessarily about an immediate vote to remove either leader, but about which camp can command enough lawmakers to influence parliamentary proceedings and any subsequent political decisions.
Some lawmakers reportedly see the dispute as an opportunity for political change within the administration, with the ongoing divisions creating room for members to reconsider their political alliances.
The contest could consequently extend beyond the two leaders themselves, particularly if lawmakers begin moving between the rival camps.