Osman resigned to avoid offending party branch secretaries and splitting the SYL.

Evidence

There are a lot of comments in the city pertaining to my resignation. Many are happy about it while others are not so inclined. Many on both sides of this divide are not motivated by genuine desire to improve the future of the country or promote national cohesion among Somalis. I am baffled with these divisions, as it was not my intention to please some and antagonize others. My only wish was not to be responsible for a decision that would offend branch secretaries and consequently create new splits in the party. — Abdi Ismail Samatar, Africa’s First Democrats, 383