BAIDOA, Somalia— Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen has announced his resignation as president of South West State and left Baidoa, following mounting military and political pressure from the federal government.
Laftagareen said in a statement posted on Facebook that he was stepping down effective March 30, days after securing re-election in Baidoa. “As of today, I have resigned from the position of President of South West State,” he said.
He departed from Baidoa’s Shaati Gaduud airport and is reported to be heading to Nairobi, where he is expected to remain after losing control of Baidoa and much of the regional administration.
His exit followed hours of talks with federal officials, which ended in an agreement to transfer power peacefully, according to sources familiar with the discussions.
Federal forces and allied militias had taken control of most key towns in South West State in recent days. Baidoa, the regional capital, was the last stronghold under Laftagareen’s control before he was defeated earlier on Monday.
The federal government had initially considered bringing Laftagareen to Mogadishu, but officials later agreed he would travel to Nairobi as efforts begin to form a new administration in South West State.
The government is expected to appoint an interim leadership, while federal forces now control Baidoa
