Somali Future Council Divided Over South West Election

[Deeq A.]

President Said Abdullahi Deni declined to send a congratulatory message following the unilateral election in South West State, signalling dissent within the Somali Future Council.

Mogadishu (PP News Desk) — The unilateral election in South West State of Somalia, in which President Abdiaziz Laftagareen was re-elected, has exposed divisions within the Somali Future Council. The rift became evident when Puntland State of Somalia declined to send a congratulatory message to Laftagareen.

Jubaland State, which conducted an election in 2024 that was disputed by the Federal Government of Somalia, issued congratulations to “South West State President Abdiaziz Laftagareen and the Speaker of the South West Parliament, Ali Faqi” following their election in Baidoa.

Puntland State President Said Abdullahi Deni, a key member of the Council, had previously called for fair elections in South West State that would allow the opposition to participate. He proposed that such elections be administered by an independent electoral commission whose members would be trusted by both the opposition and the incumbent South West administration.

President Ahmed Mohamed Islam issued a congratulatory message on the South West election without consulting Puntland, exposing divisions within the Somali Future Council.

A senior Puntland government official, speaking to Puntland Post on condition of anonymity said: “Neither Jubaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam nor other members of the Somali Future Council who sent congratulatory messages about the unilateral South West State elections consulted President Deni on the Council’s position. This marks the end of the Somali Future Council as we know it.”

President Deni appeared deeply embarrassed two years ago in Garowe during his inauguration ceremony when South West State President Laftagareen urged him to rejoin the National Consultative Council and abandon what he described as rejectionist policies towards the Federal Government of Somalia.

In February 2026, President Deni stated in Mogadishu that he had withdrawn from the National Consultative Council, described as largely ceremonial, in October 2022. Puntland has since invoked its constitution to operate with the autonomy of sovereign state, severing ties with the Federal Government of Somalia.

The latest developments in South West State may compel President Deni to reconsider a future presidential bid, following his defeat in the May 2022 election.   

© Puntland Post, 2026