Jubaland Legislators Criticize National Election Changes, Caution Against Risks to Somalia’s Unity
In Kismayo, voices of discord rang out as lawmakers from Jubaland took center stage, hurling stark criticism at Somalia’s federal government on a Saturday. The heart of this fiery clash lies in accusations: actions that amplify political chasms and threaten the fragile unity of Somalia as a nation. As they gathered for strategic talks, these representatives aired grievances, warning that federal maneuvers are not merely steps but leaps toward deepening divisions and halting conversations essential for healing the rift between Jubaland and the central government in Mogadishu.
With a tone of indignation, they released a missive condemning what they perceive as authoritarian tactics by the federal authority. Their cries echo around Jubaland’s claim to autonomy, accusing the central power of side-lining the regional administration in an attempt to consolidate control. These parliamentarians caution that ignoring the fragile federal makeup of Somalia undermines the painstakingly balanced framework designed to ensure coexistence between regional and national governments. “We’re all ears for a solution to this quarrel,” reads the statement, “but the federal government’s current path risks turning small cracks into gaping conflict chasms.”
At the root of this strife lies a federal ambition to transition from a clan-based voting model to a universal, one-person-one-vote system—a reform that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud touts as crucial for democratic evolution. Such a move has been lauded by some as progressive, though not without igniting the equivalent of an uproar in Jubaland and similar regions, which perceive it as a trespass on their self-governance.
The rebuke from Jubaland legislators coincides with an unusual moment of solidarity within Somalia’s parliament; united, they unanimously approved an array of electoral laws intended to streamline and supervise upcoming elections. In response to urgent pleas from President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, these lawmakers extended their sitting by another month, fast-tracking the reforms.
Yet, rather than quelling discord, this swift electoral amendment seemed to exacerbate tensions with Jubaland. To President Ahmed Madobe of Jubaland, the federal pursuit of electoral reform represents not progression but a stealthy attempt to annex southern state autonomy under Mogadishu’s aegis. In defiance, Madobe’s administration recently formulated its own State Independent Committee for Borders and Elections—a seven-member cadre charged with managing electoral procedures independently. The national Interior Ministry decried this body as “illegitimate,” warning that independent measures could destabilize Jubaland and disassemble the federal structure of Somalia.
A modest ceremony in Kismayo marked the formal induction of the newly minted Jubaland Independent Board of Borders and Elections. Abdishakur Sheikh Mohamed, head honcho of Jubaland’s Supreme Court, administered the oaths earlier this week. The function attracted notable figures such as Abdi Mohamed Abdirahman, the regional parliament’s Speaker, along with federal legislative comrades.
In their proclamation, the lawmakers articulated that the federal government’s responses seem part of a grander design to dismantle regional autonomy. They cite Mogadishu’s recent initiatives concerning electoral laws and governance structures as evidence. “The actions embarked upon by the federal authorities jeopardize unity by nourishing extant divides,” they declared, censuring the central government’s dismissiveness regarding Jubaland’s entreaties.
Beyond the political theater, looming security challenges can’t be ignored. Jubaland authorities have alleged federal disengagement from pivotal military outposts in the tumultuous Lower Juba area, notably around the strategic port of Kismayo. With local forces primarily shouldering the burden of counteracting Al-Shabaab insurgents, Jubaland’s leadership warns that the federal retreat could destabilize the region’s security mantle.
Intent on mending the schism, Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has called an urgent cabinet assembly and outlined plans for an impending visit to Kismayo, aiming to broker peace. But skepticism thrums among Jubaland lawmakers, who perceive a federal pattern of slighting regional concerns. In their assessment, actions from Mogadishu have succeeded more in estranging Jubaland than in nurturing collaborative engagement.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring