Jubbaland Declares Full Government Status, Renewing Challenge to Somalia’s Federal Rule

Jubbaland declares itself a “government,” deepening Somalia’s constitutional crisis

Jubbaland on Sunday said it will operate as a government rather than a federal member state, a sharp escalation in its confrontation with Somalia’s federal authorities that widens the country’s unresolved constitutional crisis.

Abdi Mohamed Abdirahman, speaker of the Jubbaland Parliament, said lawmakers approved amendments removing all references to “federal member state” from the regional charter and formally rebranding the entity as the Government of Jubbaland. He announced the change at the Eighth Jubbaland Health Conference and directed the regional cabinet to use the new designation in all official matters.

The federal government in Mogadishu did not immediately comment.

The move cements a yearlong political standoff pitting Kismayo against Mogadishu and situates Jubbaland alongsidePuntland Statein openly rejecting federal authority after contentious changes to Somalia’s provisional constitution.

• Jubbaland’s charter now refers to the entity as the Government of Jubbaland, dropping “federal member state.”
• The change follows Jubbaland’s extension of presidential terms and the disputed reelection of President Ahmed Mohamed Islam, known as Ahmed Madobe.
• The confrontation has spilled into armed clashes and prompted regional mediation led by Kenya.

The confrontation traces back to November 2024, when Jubbaland amended its constitution to override federal term limits and extend presidential terms. Weeks later, lawmakers in Kismayo reelected Madobe to a third term, a vote Mogadishu rejected as unconstitutional. The Banadir Regional Court in the capital then issued an arrest warrant for Madobe and sought an Interpol Red Notice on allegations including treason and leaking classified information to foreign entities.

Jubbaland responded by issuing its own arrest warrants for PresidentHassan Sheikh Mohamudand suspending ties with the federal government on Nov. 28, 2024, accusing Mogadishu of violating constitutional boundaries and weaponizing judicial institutions.

The dispute swiftly moved from courtrooms to front lines. Through late 2024 and into 2025, Jubbaland forces—often backed by Ethiopian units—clashed with Somali National Army troops in Ras Kamboni, Dolow, Bardhere and Beled Hawo. Federal officials accused Jubbaland of attacking army positions, while Jubbaland alleged Mogadishu was undermining regional autonomy. During major clashes, hundreds of Somali soldiers reportedly surrendered to Jubbaland units or fled across the Kenyan border.

Spillover rattled border towns in Kenya, prompting Nairobi to step up mediation. In October 2025, Kenyan officials convened a rare meeting in Kismayo between Hassan Sheikh and Madobe. No deal emerged, but both sides pledged to keep talking, underscoring persistent regional pressure for dialogue.

Even as tensions rose, Jubbaland continued to expand its governing infrastructure. In October, Madobe inaugurated a new headquarters for the Jubaland Intelligence and Security Agency, describing it as among the most advanced intelligence centers in the Horn of Africa and asserting it now outperforms Somalia’s national intelligence service in regional operations.

Jubbaland’s declaration lands amid a national constitutional showdown sparked on March 30, 2024, when the federal parliament passed amendments expanding presidential powers and shifting Somalia toward universal suffrage. Puntland State rejected the reforms the next day, withdrew recognition of the federal government and began operating independently. Jubbaland later aligned with opposition groups warning the changes risk deepening instability and creating competing legal systems.

By redefining its status, Jubbaland is testing the limits of Somalia’s federal arrangement at a moment when cohesion is crucial for finalizing the permanent constitution, coordinating national security operations and sustaining momentum against al-Shabaab. The move raises the stakes for ongoing mediation and could complicate efforts to build a unified command structure, manage border security and maintain donor confidence.

For now, the path forward hinges on whether Kismayo and Mogadishu can convert talks into a framework that addresses disputed mandates, election management and security coordination. Absent a negotiated settlement, Somalia risks parallel legal orders, fragmented security forces and a deepening crisis that could outlast current political terms.

By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.