On 8 January, outgoing President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo deployed around 100 federal troops, mainly Turkish-trained Gorgor and Haram’ad paramilitary units, to Beledweyne in Hiiraan region. This move came shortly after HirShabelle President Ali Guudlaawe met with Farmaajo in Mogadishu. Beledweyne is historically volatile, prone to clan conflict, flooding, and political unrest. Critics argue the deployment was politically motivated to disrupt elections and undermine caretaker Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble. Roble, the Minister of Security, and the cabinet were not consulted, violating the National Consultative Council’s agreement. Local leaders believe the move aims to influence the election of 25 Lower House seats in Beledweyne, possibly to benefit Farmaajo allies such as his security advisor Fahad Yasin. The situation is complicated by long-standing clan grievances stemming from the 2020 election of Guudlaawe, an Abgaal, to the HirShabelle presidency, breaking a power-sharing pact that allocated the position to the Hawadle. The troop deployment has heightened fears of violence similar to the 2021 clashes in Guriel, with Hiiraan leaders warning of displacement and insecurity. The troops report directly to Farmaajo rather than the official military chain of command, raising concerns that this is part of a broader effort to consolidate power outside legal structures.