On 1 January 2026 Mrs. Halima (Hawo) Yare, the former Chairperson of the Federal National Electoral Commission, told the media that Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre once threatened her, saying, “I will blow your head if I land in my hometown of Kismayo.”
At the time of the alleged incident, several years ago, both individuals held official electoral roles. Mr. Hamza Abdi Barre was serving as the Chairperson of the State Electoral Commission, while Mrs. Hawo Yare was the Chairperson of the Federal Electoral Commission.
The two were involved in a serious dispute related to the 2021 parliamentary elections, which caused tension between the Federal Government and the Federal Member States.
Mrs. Hawo Yare said she raised the issue publicly during the Heritage Institute conference held in Dhusamareb, her hometown, where Mr. Hamza Abdi Barre—then a senior political figure—was also addressing the conference.