Former Intel Chief Warns Hassan Sheikh's Trajectory Will Fracture Somalia and the Ruling Coalition
- Gallaydh News Desk
- Mar 22
- 3 min read
Mogadishu, Somalia A highly charged political atmosphere has engulfed Somalia's presidential palace, Villa Somalia, after one of the strongest pillars of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's alliance openly criticized the country's trajectory. Abdullahi Mohamed Ali (Sanbaloolshe), a federal lawmaker and former Director of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), issued a stark warning that the ruling political coalition is on the verge of total collapse.
Widely known as one of the President's closest confidants and a prominent figure in his successive administrations, Sanbaloolshe stated unequivocally that the country has embarked on the wrong path and that the President's current political maneuvering must be halted immediately.
"A Coalition Unraveling: Former Allies Part Ways"
In a brief yet highly consequential statement posted to his Facebook page, Sanbaloolshe expressed grave concern over the country's trajectory. He alluded to a pervasive erosion of trust that has permeated the ranks of the political architects behind the incumbent administration.
"The manner in which the country's political landscape is being managed is fundamentally flawed. If a course correction is not made, the alliance that once united us can no longer be sustained," Sanbaloolshe stated.
This public declaration lends immediate credence to recent political murmurs suggesting that President Hassan Sheikh's base of support is rapidly deteriorating. Political analysts view Sanbaloolshe's remarks as the most definitive evidence to date of a severe rift fracturing the government's inner circle.
The Presidential Race and Internal Ambitions
This political fragmentation is not accidental. It appears to be the result of a simmering power struggle and political ambition taking root among the leadership of the ruling JSP party.
Hassan Sheikh's allies have increasingly drifted apart, a reality heavily underscored by reports that MP Abdirahman Mohamed Hussein (Odowaa), the Secretary General of the President's own party, is preparing to launch a presidential campaign for the upcoming elections.
The fact that a figure so close to the President, holding the highest administrative position within the ruling party, is gearing up to challenge his leader is a clear indicator of internal dissent. It suggests that former allies believe Hassan Sheikh's political strategy has lost public confidence, prompting them to carve out independent paths to the presidency.
The Consequences of the Internal Rift
Sanbaloolshe's remarks reveal that the crises paralyzing Villa Somalia are not solely driven by external opposition or dissenting federal member states like Puntland and South West. There is a severe internal political hemorrhage occurring. This internal fracture could have devastating impacts during this critical period:
Weakened Political Unity: The collapse of the government's alliance undermines the President's ability to execute his strategic plans, particularly his controversial constitutional amendments and electoral overhauls.
Security Disruption: When heavyweight politicians with extensive backgrounds in the security apparatus, such as Sanbaloolshe, express deep dissatisfaction, it risks fracturing cooperation within security agencies that are already struggling in the war against Al Shabaab.
Loss of Public Trust: Internal squabbling among leaders who promised to rescue the nation diminishes the hope and confidence the public placed in Somalia's state-building process.
Ultimately, MP Sanbaloolshe's warning arrives at a time when the country is navigating severe security, constitutional, and electoral hurdles. His message is unmistakable. If President Hassan Sheikh does not urgently review his policy of coercion and unilateral maneuvering, he will soon find himself isolated, with his closest allies transforming into his fiercest opponents. The era of solidarity has ended; the season of internal reckoning and fierce political rivalry has officially begun.
