
26/07/2025
Mustafa Agjar Cements His Final Legacy
As President Mustafa Muhummed Omer, popularly known as Mustafa Agjar, approaches the end of his tenure, he appears to be cementing his legacy through a sweeping administrative restructuring in the Somali Regional State. The Somali Regional Parliament is set to vote on a controversial plan that includes:
- Establishment of 24 new city municipality
- Creation of 14 new districts (woredas)
- Formation of 4 new zones
This ambitious move has ignited intense debate across the region, with supporters heralding it as a significant step toward decentralization and improved governance, while critics warn it could exacerbate clan tensions and deepen existing governance challenges.
Proponents argue that the restructuring will bring government services closer to local communities, addressing long-standing issues of marginalization and enabling more responsive governance. They see it as an opportunity to empower local actors and improve service delivery in a region historically marked by clan-based divisions.
However, opponents contend that the plan is rushed and poorly planned, driven more by political expediency than genuine developmental needs. Concerns have been raised about whether these new administrative units possess the necessary infrastructure, sustainable funding, and public consensus to function effectively. Critics also question the transparency of the process, fearing that political motivations may overshadow the region’s developmental priorities.
The Somali Region’s social fabric is deeply intertwined with clan allegiances and redrawing administrative boundaries risks intensifying existing tensions. Several clans have accused the government of gerrymandering to favor certain groups:
- The creation of a new zone for President Agjar, along with his allies Adan Farah and Ahmed Shide, has sparked concerns about favoritism and cronyism.
- In places like Harowe, Afdheer, Doboweyn, Shilabo, and Doolo, communities have already taken to the streets, with some calling for direct federal control instead of ongoing regional governance.
Historically, boundary disputes have often triggered violent clashes, including conflicts between Somali and Afar militias, Somali and Oromo groups, and tensions within Somali clans themselves. These patterns suggest that hastily drawn boundaries, if not carefully managed, could easily reignite conflict and deepen regional instability.
This move echoes the actions of former President Abdi Mohamoud Omar (Abdi Iley), who, in 2018, approved an astonishing 99 new woredas in the waning days of his administration. Widely viewed as an effort to entrench his political influence ahead of his ouster, Iley’s restructuring was criticized for lacking comprehensive feasibility studies, public consultation, and sustainable funding--issues that threaten the success of Agjar’s current plan as well.
With Agjar’s popularity waning and political transitions looming, critics argue that the move may serve more to secure influence than to promote sustainable development.
Mustafa Agjar’s final administrative overhaul is a risky endeavor. While theoretically capable of improving local governance, the lack of transparency, potential clan backlash, and historical precedents suggest it could deepen divisions and trigger instability rather than promoting unity.
The coming months will be crucial in determining whether these new administrative structures can withstand the test of time or whether they will unravel under the weight of unmet expectations and renewed conflict.
Jigjiga Mirror