The President of South West State, Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen, arrived in Nairobi late Tuesday night and is maintaining that he remains the legitimate holder of the office, according to advisers close to him.
The claim follows confusion over a reported resignation issued shortly before his departure from Baidoa.
A statement posted on his Facebook page indicated he had stepped down, but it was later deleted after his arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
The post subsequently resurfaced, raising further questions about its authenticity and timing.
Attempts to reach Laftagareen for direct comment were unsuccessful.
However, a lawmaker who traveled with his delegation confirmed that he continues to assert his presidency.
The same source reported that their flight was briefly delayed prior to departure amid alleged pressure from officials associated with Villa Somalia.
According to the account, there were warnings the plane could be diverted to Mogadishu unless a formal resignation was issued.
The situation remains fluid, with uncertainty surrounding the status of the presidency and the circumstances behind the conflicting statements.
Further updates are expected.