In the weeks following his presidential victory, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (HSM) has earned high public approval and praise from international partners, including U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. He has wasted no time assembling his team, appointing former rivals Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame to special envoy roles focused on Somaliland talks and drought response, respectively. These strategic, non-controversial appointments reflect a calculated effort to unify political factions after a contentious election. HSM also named Hussein Sheikh Ali as National Security Advisor, a widely welcomed decision due to his security expertise. However, the appointment of Mahad Mohamed Salad as director of NISA sparked donor concern due to his lack of intelligence background—though he may serve as a political placeholder or be complemented by a skilled deputy. As speculation swirls around the choice of prime minister, attention turns to Puntland’s Sa’id Abdullahi Deni, whose support helped HSM win. Yet concerns about Deni’s strong-willed nature could complicate governance. These early decisions reflect HSM’s pragmatic leadership style within Somalia’s semi-presidential system. While some appointments are political, they suggest a deliberate effort to build stability, and many analysts advise giving HSM time before drawing conclusions.
The Janan saga highlights the complex and often contradictory political maneuvers of Villa Somalia. Abdirashid Hassan Abdinoor, the former Jubaland Minister of Internal Security, was once a collaborator with the Somali Federal Government (FGS) despite being wanted for human rights violations. Pardoned and granted immunity, Janan initially appeared to support FGS interests, but later backed President Ahmed Madobe’s re-election, drawing the ire of Villa Somalia. Subsequent attempts by the FGS and NISA to detain him led to clashes, including a major confrontation in Beled Hawo in Gedo, with accusations of external support from Kenya. Fast forward, Janan is no longer considered a fugitive but is instead positioned as a political pawn, illustrating the selective application of justice and the double standards of the Somali government. This saga underscores the challenges of accountability, transparency, and political loyalty in Somalia. Observers see Janan’s story as emblematic of how Villa Somalia manipulates pardons, imprisonment, and alliances to maintain leverage over regional leaders and shape the broader political landscape, highlighting the fragility of Somalia’s federal system.