Jubaland Officially Suspends all Relations with Somalia’s Federal Government

Following a disagreement over an election in the area, the government of Jubaland state which is semi-autonomous in Somalia announced on Thursday that it was suspending communication and collaboration with the Somalia federal government.

In an election held Monday, Ahmed Mohamed Islam Madobe, the regional president of Jubaland, one of Somalia’s five semi-autonomous republics that borders Kenya and Ethiopia was re-elected for a third term. The Mogadishu based national government headed by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud opposed the election claiming that the federal government had no role.

Kismayo, the capital of Somalia is a strategically significant port and Jubaland is considered the country’s breadbasket. Its coastline marks a disputed marine area that both Kenya and Somalia claim including possible oil and gas resources.

Jubaland issued a reciprocal warrant for President Mohamud today while the federal government issued an arrest warrant for Madobe through a regional court in Mogadishu on Wednesday as the election dispute intensified. Madobe is currently facing charges of treason and giving foreign organizations access to secret material. 

Given that both Madobe and Mohamud are in charge of sizable armies, it is still unclear how the warrants will be carried out.

Daud Aweis, Somalia’s minister of information, told Reuters that the judiciary which was charged with upholding the law through its decisions and rulings was in charge of the situation. He did not reply immediately to the breaking of connections. 

The conflict is taking place in the midst of Mogadishu’s deteriorating ties with Somaliland, another of its territories that is seeking international recognition as a sovereign state.

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“The Jubaland government has officially and completely suspended relations and cooperation with the Federal Government of Somalia,” said Jubaland’s state house.

Earlier this week, the national government sent more troops to Jubaland in response to the election. In 2021 Jubaland was one of the regional governments that almost clashed with the national government over plans to extend the term of the former president, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed. The state house of Jubaland accused Mohamud of a number of offenses including violations of the constitution, corruption, inflaming clan conflicts and endangering Somalia’s fight against Islamist insurgents.