Hargeisa Local Council Elects New Leadership Following the Dismissal of Mayor Mooge and His Deputy

HARGEISA (May 12, 2026) In an extraordinary session held today by the members of the Hargeisa Local Council, the Mayor of the city, Abdikarim Ahmed Mooge, and his deputy, Khadar Ahmed Omar, were officially removed from office. During the exact same session, the council elected a new leadership team to take the helm of the capital's administration for the next two years.

The Local Council members passed a motion to dismiss the two officials, citing allegations that rooted from administrative stagnation, mismanagement, and a failure to adequately fulfill designated duties regarding the capital's municipal services. These two officials, who were originally elected to office on June 17, 2021, are stepping down before the formal issuance of a resignation decision that Abdikarim Mooge had previously brought up.

Election of the New Mayor and Deputy

During the course of the extraordinary session, the councilors officially elected Eng. Abdirisaq Mohamed Farah, widely known as Wiiwaa, as the new Mayor of Hargeisa. Additionally, Eng. Adan Jama Haddi, known as Mideeye, was elected to the position of Deputy Mayor of the capital.

The newly elected mayor, Eng. Wiiwaa, was among the councilors elected from the Waddani opposition party in Hargeisa in 2021. Meanwhile, the new deputy mayor, Eng. Mideeye, emerged from the Kulmiye party in the capital during that same election year.

The new mayor, Abdirisaq Mohamed Farah Wiiwaa, delivered brief remarks following his election. He stated that he was pleased with the peaceful and respectful manner in which the session was conducted. He promised to accelerate the activities of the Local Government, while requesting the council members to cooperate with him and assist in the overall development of the capital.

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Perspectives of the Outgoing Mayor

The former mayor of the capital, Abdikarim Ahmed Mooge, also addressed the gathering. He clarified that he accepted his dismissal in good faith. He noted that he is leaving the position with an open heart, mentioning that he initially did not fully realize the heavy burden this job carried, but he now understands it completely.

Mooge stated that he and his brother Abdirahman Soltelco did not initially realize the weight of this work, but upon entering the office, he felt it. He also thanked the public for their unwavering support and stated that he will address them again once he completes his remaining term as a standard councilor.

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Session Details and Councilors in Attendance

The session, which took place at the Hargeisa Local Government headquarters, was chaired by the Governor of the Maroodi Jeh region. The executive secretary of the Local Government was also in attendance. According to available reports, the faction belonging to candidate Khadar Nur, who was competing against the new leadership, did not attend the election venue.

Ten members of the Local Council were present in the session hall. They are:

1. Abdikarim Ahmed Mooge

2. Abdirisaq Mohamed Farah

3. Adan Abdi Jama Mideeye

4. Aydarus Abdi Samad

5. Abdikarim Hassan Garas

6. Muse Da'ud

7. Faysal Abdirahman

8. Hussein Askar

9. Yasin Omar Abdi

10. Abdirahman Soltelco

The new leadership will now officially commence their administrative duties. This change comes at a critical time when the residents of the capital are expecting a significant improvement in the city's basic services.