More 150 members including traditional elders from the Reer Aw Hassan clan have issued serious accusations against Federal Minister of Education Farah Sheikh Abdulkadir and MP Dr. Mohamed Haji, claiming the two have caused internal divisions within the sub-clans and failed in their duties as representatives.
In a statement delivered during a gathering in Mogadishu, the elders declared they had formally withdrawn their confidence and support from both officials. They accused them of fueling internal rifts and favoritism, describing their leadership as divisive and self-serving.
The elders were particularly scathing in their assessment of MP Dr. Mohamed Haji, labeling his term as one marked by poor representation and a significant weakening of Reer Aw Hassan’s political influence. They claimed that Haji, who entered politics through the Damjadiid political faction, took the clan’s parliamentary seat by force, undermining traditional consensus. They further alleged that he has repeatedly admitted to elders that he regrets how he assumed the seat and is now politically confused.
Minister Farah Sheikh Abdulkadir, a close ally of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, was likewise criticized. Although he sits in the Cabinet as a representative of Reer Aw Hassan, the elders accused him of contributing to misinformation, internal disarray, and unfulfilled promises made to the clan. One elder boldly stated during the meeting, “I don’t think there’s a Somali politician more deceitful and disloyal than Minister Farah. He has broken every promise made to this clan, and accountability is finally catching up with him.”
The elders called on Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre to intervene in the matter, warning that the issue could destabilize trust in the current political arrangement. While Minister Farah holds his seat through the clan’s Cabinet share, and MP Mohamed Haji is tied to Damjadiid—the President’s political base—the elders’ public rebuke could carry serious political consequences for both men moving forward.
