KISMAYO, Somalia – Somali Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble is visiting Kismayo, the interim capital of Jubaland, as part of his pre-election preparations, as he seeks to oversee a credible election in the Horn of Africa country.
The Prime Minister accompanied by senior federal government officials, including Finance Minister Abdirahman Dualle Beileh, was warmly greeted at the airport by the President of Jubaland, Ahmed Madobe, and members of the public from state authorities.
The state of Jubaland has been at odds with Mogadishu for years on national issues after outgoing President Farmajo imposed travel restrictions on Kismayo to isolate Madobe, a move that further exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in the region.
Minutes after 11 a.m. Mogadishu time, Roble was photographed at Adan Adde International Airport, where he boarded his plane. He is the first senior FGS official to visit Jubaland in as many months, given the rivalry between the two entities.
Sources said the purpose of Roble’s trip centers on forming Garbaharey’s administration and reconciliation in Gedo, the epicenter of Somalia’s worst electoral conflict. Jubaland and FGS had differences over the management of elections in the two regions.
Jubaland President Ahmed Islam Mohamed Madobe, who is due to meet with Roble, initially accused President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo of plotting to install his preferred candidates in the two regions as a strategy to weaken the Kismayo administration.
The allegations appearing in the FMS and FGS talks in recent weeks. As part of restoring confidence in the upcoming election, stakeholders chose Roble to lead the exercise, arguing that he had shown commitment and fairness, effectively pushing Farmajo out of the picture.
Somalia is due to hold elections starting July 25 this year, which will culminate with presidential elections scheduled for October 10. Already, the electoral dispute resolution committee has elected Abdullahi Abyan Nur by secret ballot as chairman of the committee.
After the trip to Kismayo, sources say Roble could fly to Kenya, where he could hold a meeting with President Uhuru Kenyatta. During Omar Ismail Guelleh’s investiture in May, Uhuru gave Roble a special invitation, which he has yet to honor.
Kenya and Somalia have been at daggers drawn in recent months, with KDF operations in Jubaland and the Indian Ocean maritime border adding to the strife. Somalia also accuses Kenya of supporting the administration of Jubaland to its detriment.
AXADLETM
