Somalia: Government Strategizes Military Action to Halt Jubaland Election in Kismayo

KISMAYO, Somalia – A simmering political rift between Somalia’s federal leadership and the Jubaland regional state is on the brink of intensifying. Insider whispers suggest Villa Somalia might be gearing up to send troops to Kismayo, the bustling heart of Jubaland’s administration.

Ahmed Madobe, head honcho of Jubaland, has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s approach, accusing him of sidestepping talks about the election process. Madobe believes the nation isn’t geared up for widespread voting.

To counteract this, Jubaland is gearing up for indirect elections, stirring the pot significantly. Madobe contends that the proposed one-person-one-vote system could unintentionally extend the tenures of both federal and regional leaders, clashing with the constitution.

Axadle learned from various contacts that there’s a plan to show who’s boss. The office of Hamsa Abdi Barre is allegedly eyeing a military deployment to Kismayo via the sea. This maneuver, a flex of power, might ramp up the frictions further.

Hamza Abdi Barre, who previously helmed the Jubaland Independent Boundaries and Electoral Commission from 2019 to 2020 during Madobe’s leadership, was elevated to the position of Somalia’s Prime Minister in 2022 by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

This decision followed Sheikh’s appointment of a former Jubaland Intelligence leader—a close kin to Madobe—as the commander of the Somali National Army’s ground forces, alongside the reinstatement of General Rageh Odowaa, renowned for his clampdowns on opposition figures during Farmajo’s governance, as the new chief of the army.

Odowaa was notably active during Farmajo’s stint, allegedly allying with Ethiopian troops under the directive of the then-Director of the National Intelligence and Security Agency, Fahad Yasin, who was intent on dethroning Madobe.

In a gathering on Monday in Kismayo, federal representatives from Jubaland urged the central authority to refrain from meddling in Jubaland’s affairs, specifically its electoral processes. They warned against any endeavors that might disrupt the harmony of the Federal State or sow division among its people.

Hailing from Jubaland himself, Barre is eager to rally the state around his leadership, an outcome predicated on keeping Madobe vigilant. Over the last few weeks, Barre’s attempts to restore order in Jubaland have hit roadblocks, nudging military intervention to the forefront as a plausible solution.

In the days when Hassan Sheikh was in opposition, there were incidents of military hesitation to back Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, aka Farmajo, who sought to misuse their power for extending his reign. At times, dissident troops staged rebellions, warning against tenure elongations.

AXADLETM

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