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Kismayo mayor accuses Somali president of treason as federal-Jubaland crisis escalates
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    Sunday December 1, 2024


    Kismayo Mayor Omar Abdullahi Mohamed (Faraweyne) addressing a meeting in his office, highlighting key developments in the Jubaland region. 

    Kismayo (HOL) — The fragile relationship between Somalia's federal government and the semi-autonomous Jubaland administration has deteriorated further with Kismayo Mayor Omar Abdullahi Mohamed accusing President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of treason. 

    The Mayor's explosive claim was accompanied by a symbolic removal of the President's images from public buildings in Jubaland.

    The accusation is the latest twist in a bitter political feud that has seen both federal and Jubaland leaders engage in unprecedented tit-for-tat legal actions. Jubaland's First Instance Court recently issued an arrest warrant for President Mohamud, charging him with treason and incitement to rebellion. Mogadishu requested Interpol to issue a Red Notice for Jubaland President Ahmed Madobe, accusing him of conspiring with foreign entities and undermining Somalia's national security.

    The escalating legal confrontation has spilled into military deployments. Federal forces, including elite Haram'ad and Gorgor units trained by Turkey, have been deployed to Jubaland's Ras Kamboni region, a strategic area near the Kenyan border. These movements coincide with the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia's (ATMIS) phased withdrawal, leaving critical areas vulnerable to security threats.

    On Saturday, Jubaland’s government has ordered airlines operating in its territories to cooperate exclusively with officials appointed by the state’s Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation.

    Underlying the dispute are long-standing disagreements over Somalia's federal structure. Jubaland, led by Ahmed Madobe, has consistently resisted federal efforts to centralize power and transition to a universal suffrage electoral system. The federal government, however, views these reforms as essential to Somalia's state-building efforts.

    Madobe's contentious re-election for a third term in November has further inflamed tensions. The federal government deemed the election unconstitutional, citing term limits, while opposition groups in Jubaland held parallel elections, deepening regional divisions.

    The international community has called for restraint. In a joint statement, the United Nations, African Union, and European Union urged Somalia's leaders to resolve their differences through dialogue via the National Consultative Council. Neighboring Kenya and Ethiopia, both of which maintain troops in Jubaland, are also closely monitoring the situation, fearing regional instability.

    Former Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has joined the calls for de-escalation. "Somalia's future depends on cooperation, not coercion," he said at a recent press conference. "Dialogue is our only path to unity."

     





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