Somalia: Lawmakers Claim Federal Government is Mobilizing Troops Near Kenyan Border, Raise Concerns Over Potential Conflict
KISMAYO, Somalia – In the hustle and bustle of Somali politics, things aren’t all sunshine and rainbows, as federal lawmakers from the Jubaland state are ringing alarm bells. They claim that the federal government of Somalia is building up troops along the Kenyan frontier. This, dear reader, could be like lighting a powder keg, all happening a few months after the Somali National Army got a bit of a drubbing in Raskamboni.
So, what’s cooking? According to these intrepid legislators, the central government is playing the “Big Bad Wolf,” trying to destabilize Jubaland’s regional administration, hoping to elbow out the current head honcho, President Ahmed Islam Mohamed Madobe. Apparently, Madobe and Mogadishu aren’t exactly exchanging gift baskets these days.
Now, while they might be lacking in hard evidence, Jubaland officials swear up and down that former army officers, who once patrolled Jubaland, are being sent back into the thick of things near the Kenya-Somalia boundary. This, they argue, could stir up a hornet’s nest.
“The federal government is deliberately preparing and bankrolling militias to stir up trouble along the border. It’s like they’re shooting for peace disruption bingo, with bonus points for involving both Jubaland and Kenya,” the statement declared with all the nuance of a loudspeaker.
The federal government’s been pretty tight-lipped on these accusations so far. However, Somalia’s Defense Minister, Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, dropped a hint that they’re extending an olive branch to Jubaland—well, sort of.
President Madobe, never shy of a political tango, waltzed his way back into office through indirect elections in November. Mogadishu’s not amused, itching for direct elections instead. Madobe fears that universal suffrage might open Pandora’s box, leading to unconstitutional term elongations.
Meanwhile, President Hassan Sheikh is juggling like a circus performer, trying to hold the nation’s unity together. But, both Northeastern State and Jubaland, like a couple of unruly siblings, are tossing accusations his way. They claim he’s fiddling with the constitution without his consultative hat and playing fast and loose with federalism—the glue that’s holding the country together, they argue.
And oh boy, Jubaland forces have shown the Gorgor troops the exit sign in November. Some Gorgors even packed their bags and hightailed it to Kenyan Defence Forces’ Forward Operating Bases along the border. Kenya played the role of mediator, stepping in to broker peace between Kismayo and Mogadishu, but as of now, the peace pipe remains un-smoked.
AXADLETM
