Clashes erupt between Somalia’s federal troops and regional forces over a disputed local election

Clashes have broken out in a town in southern Somalia between forces of the country’s federal government and regional troops from the state of Jubbaland, amid escalating tensions following a disputed regional election. Officials on both sides said the fighting, which lasted for hours in the town of Raskamboni on Wednesday, had subsided by midday.

Each side blamed the other for triggering the clashes, but details of the fighting and the number of casualties remained unclear due to the imposed telecommunications blackout in the region. 

Somalia’s federal forces are taking over from the African Union peacekeeping mission, which has been in place since 2007 and whose mandate expires at the end of the month, in the fight against the al-Qaeda-linked militant group al-Shabab.

The federal government accused the Jubbaland regional forces, led by Ahmed Madobe, of attacking positions previously held by federal troops on Wednesday. According to the government, these positions are essential in the fight against Al-Shabab. 

Ahmed Madobe was re-elected for a third term in the Jubbaland presidential election held on November 25. His third term would violate the limits set by the federal government. The opposition in Jubbaland contested the election results and formed a parallel government.

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Jubbaland officials meanwhile accused federal forces of starting the fighting on Wednesday by targeting Jubbaland positions, claiming that the deployment of federal troops was part of a wider effort to undermine the authority of the regional government.

The Somali Ministry of Defence claimed that Mr Madobe had coordinated his actions with Al-Shabab militants, allowing Jubbaland forces to operate in areas controlled by the group.