Somalia’s fragile electoral process faces yet another hurdle as HirShabelle leader Ali Gudlaawe skips a crucial stakeholders’ meeting announced by PM Mohamed Hussein Roble two weeks ago. While Gudlaawe is reportedly in Turkey on a routine visit, his absence fuels speculation of deliberate stalling tactics linked to Villa Somalia and President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo. Gudlaawe, a close ally of Farmaajo and former intelligence chief Fahad Yasin, rose to power in HirShabelle through a controversial process that fractured the region. His no-show has sparked multiple theories: discontent over federal constituency rules, backlash against Harama’ad police deployments in Jowhar, or simply playing a role in Farmaajo’s alleged bid to delay elections through procedural slowdowns.