The police commander of Beledweyne town, Ahmed Ali Adan, has vehemently opposed his dismissal by the Hirshabelle Police Commissioner, Hassan Dhicisow, setting the stage for a power in the regional state.
Commander Ahmed Ali Adan has argued that the Hirshabelle Police Commander has no authority to remove him from his position as he holds a federal appointment.
“I am a federal police officer and arrived here based on a federal appointment. Hirshabelle does not possess the authority to revoke my duties; it lacks legal grounds. Furthermore, I have not received any communication from the Somali Police Commander appointing a new officer,” he stated.
Hirshabelle Police Commissioner Hassan Dhicisow appointed Abdullahi Mohamud Siyad to the position. However, local officials underscored that the federal Police Commissioner executes the dismissal and appointment of Beledweyne’s Police Chiefs.
Last June, Hirshabelle State President Ali Guudlaawe removed the governor of the Hiiraan region, Ali Jeyte, in a surprising move which raised worries over the future of the ongoing anti-al-Shabab military campaign in the region. Mr Jeyte opposed his removal, and weeks after, the residents reportedly elected him as the President of Hiiraan State, and he banned officials from Hirshabelle.
