Monday April 6, 2020
BELEDWEYNE (HOL) - The standoff over change of leadership in Hiiraan continues to unfold as outgoing governor Ali Mohamed Arale maintains he will not leave office while the newly appointed governor Ali Jeyte Osman strikes a deal with regional officials.
Jeyte who was recently appointed held a meeting Sunday with the deputy governor for social affairs Sheikh Hussein Osman said he is open to talks with any opposing party.
“We know the second world war was resolved after talks and there is no way we cannot hold talks with any side that has concerns with my appointment,” said Jeyte.
Osman affirmed support for Jeyte noting he together with other officials from Hiiraan region will abide by the decision of President Abdi Waare to appoint Jeyte as new governor. Beletweyne is the administrative capital of Hiiraan region.
But Arale has remained defiant noting he is still the legitimate governor of Hiiraan region. Speaking Sunday from the governor’s official residence where he is still residing, Arale accused president Ware of ‘attacking me in my office’ adding he (Ware) will be responsible for ‘anything that happens to me’.
Arale said forces loyal to President Ware attacked him and sprayed bullets on his house but AMISOM troops intervened to save the situation.
He said talks with elders on the leadership of the region with elders had collapsed. In defense of stay in office, Arale claimed there was an MoU which indicated that any change of governors in HirShabelle must be done in consultation and approved by the cabinet.
HOL could not establish the existence of the MoU.
Arale has not been operating from his official office for about six months now over what he said were security concerns.