The UN urges Madobe to return to Somalia’s national discussions amid escalating political turmoil.
In Kismayo, United Nations envoy James Swan and Jubbaland’s head honcho, Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Madobe), shook hands and dove into Somalia’s political big picture. They chewed over state-building, the quagmire with Al-Shabaab, and the prep work for the upcoming National Consultative Council (NCC) hoo-ha.
Mogadishu (AX) — On a Sunday powwow, James Swan, the UN’s point person, nudged Jubbaland’s President Ahmed Madobe back into Somalia’s National Consultative Council. They focused their chat on building an effective state and boosting security.
The convo zoomed in on beefing up Somalia’s institutions, tackling Al-Shabaab head-on, and the looming pullback of African Union peacemakers. Swan encouraged Madobe to grab a seat at the table again to hash out the nation’s big-ticket issues.
Fresh off Madobe ditching last week’s NCC talks, the meetup spotlighted the urgent need to gather Somalia’s leaders to crack the country’s knotty problems. The United Nations Support Office in Somalia is expected to be knee-deep in organizing these discussions, with Northeastern State’s involvement sorely missing from the last NCC gig.
Madobe’s exit from the NCC stirred the already boiling pot of Somalia’s political scene. His walkout was sparked by a federal decision on elections that he claimed didn’t sit well with crucial players, notably our mates from Northeastern State and Khatumo.
This deadlock showcases the clamor from opposition groups that federal bigwigs should stick to timely elections and steer clear of dragging out mandates. Critics like Madobe are all about avoiding federal shenanigans without all the regional voices on board, especially the push for a straightforward voting system, deemed pivotal for Somalia’s democratic growth.
Madobe and his allies, though, shake their heads at direct elections, waving flags that the federal idea is half-baked and chips away at regional independence.
Adding more spice to the political stew are claims from Jubbaland that Villa Somalia—the President’s stomping ground—has its hands in a smear campaign against Madobe. Jubbaland’s spin doctor, Mohamed Hassan Hiis, accused the federal folks of cooking up social media shenanigans to dent Madobe’s leadership creds.
Meanwhile, Northeastern State’s decision to give the NCC meetings a miss isn’t helping the political vibes. President Said Abdullahi Deni has a bone to pick with Somalia’s Federal Government over recent job changes, especially naming Gen. Asad Osman Abdullahi Diyano as the police top dog. Northeastern State cried foul over this federal overstep, with Deni’s absence further poking the rift between Mogadishu and Somalia’s regional players.
Swan and Madobe also delved into the prickly pear of Somalia’s security, with Al-Shabaab’s continued shenanigans causing headaches despite military strides. The tussle with Al-Shabaab is a hot topic as Somalia gears up to switch from the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) by 2025.
The transition ain’t without its rough spots, as the federal peeps have voiced opposition to Ethiopian boots sticking around in AU missions. The growing clout Ethiopia’s wiggling into after scoring permission to North Western State of Somalia’s sea territory isn’t sitting well with Somalia’s leaders.
UN emissary Swan played matchmaker again, calling for team spirit between federal and regional leaders. During earlier chinwags with Federal Government of Somalia top brass, Swan hammered home the need for continued team-ups to fix the hiccups bogging down the NCC’s gig.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
