Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud flanked (middle) by Somalia's Federal Parliament Speaker Sheikh Aden Mohamed Nur and Chairman of the Senate speaker Abdi Hashi Abdullahi addresses delegates after signing the recently approved Constitution in Mogadishu, Somalia March 8, 2026.
The fragile Somali federal system has been thrust into a fresh crisis after the South West State announced it had cut ties with Mogadishu on Tuesday, exposing a new fracture at a pivotal moment for the country.
The move marks a breakdown in relations between the regional administration and the federal government, with South West leaders framing their decision as a constitutional response to sustained interference from Mogadishu.
