Somalia Requests ATMIS to Assume Control of Kismayo Airport Amid Growing Tensions with Jubaland
KISMAYO, Somalia – In a surprising twist, the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia, known as ATMIS, has seemingly balked at the Somalian federal government’s request to take over Kismayo airport’s operations. The situation stems from Mogadishu’s desire to disrupt upcoming elections in Jubaland following a fallout with the region’s leader, Ahmed Islam Mohamed Madobe, insiders report.
ATMIS, a key player in maintaining security across various areas of Somalia, asserted that they won’t step into the management shoes of the airport, which remains under Jubaland’s watchful eye. This has led to a growing rift between the capital, Mogadishu, and the city of Kismayo.
Mogadishu’s maneuver to control the airport occurs with rumors swirling about Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre’s intended visit to his homeland, Kismayo. There’s a buzz around the possibility that he might meddle in Jubaland’s election schedule, further stoking both political and military flames.
Jubaland’s bigwigs are hustling into an emergency huddle, with word on the street suggesting a public address is around the bend. The national government is eager to seize control over the western Somali state, arguing that indirect elections would avert potential extensions in leadership terms.
Earlier, hot tempers flared as Somalia’s federal Ministry of Interior slammed Jubaland’s push to set up an electoral committee, intensifying the already fiery relationship between Villa Somalia and the Federal Member States.
However, the ministry is treading thin ice, as it holds no authority to meddle in regional voting rituals. In a stern rebuke, the federation condemned Jubaland’s actions as unlawful, insisting they threaten national order and urging compliance with the blueprint for direct elections.
President Hassan Sheikh, steering the country’s helm, is pushing for a one-person, one-vote system, stirring contention among stakeholders. His actions have included tweaking segments of the federal constitution, irking several member states.
During the most recent National Consultative Council meeting, which Jubaland gave the cold shoulder, an extension was granted to the leaders of three states by a whole year—a move that triggered President Ahmed Madobe to walk out in protest.
Diplomatic attempts to douse the tensions have hit a wall, with Madobe standing his ground for indirect elections, saying the nation lacks the infrastructure for all-out voting, which demands meticulous preparation.
Northeastern State, from another corner, is also singing a different tune, objecting to the lackadaisical consultations before the bid to push constitutional changes into the parliamentary ratification process.
Detractors are drawing parallels between President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s and his predecessor’s, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed “Farmajo,” notorious for his term-extension antics that invited staunch opposition—a group Hassan Sheikh was once allied with.
Grappling with dissent from some federal factions, Hassan Sheikh faces a knotty challenge as he attempts a governance pivot from the parliament-based approach to a presidential system—last attempted before 1969’s military takeover.
AXADLETM
