Sunday December 1, 2024
Kismayo (HOL) — Jubbaland State administration has denied reports that many of its troops joined federal military forces in the southern town of Raskamboni as political tensions with the federal government intensify.
Somali state-owned media reported Sunday that four boats carrying Jubbaland soldiers arrived in Raskamboni as part of preparations for a major operation against al-Shabab militants. Jubbaland officials, however, disputed the report, stating that the troops in question were federal forces deployed to the region.
"Earlier this morning, a video was posted on social media of three boats carrying troops said to be Jubbaland Dervish forces. These troops are not Jubbaland forces but were brought to Raskamboni by the federal government," read the Jubbaland press release.
The conflicting narratives emerge against the backdrop of heightened political discord following the re-election of Jubbaland President Ahmed Madobe on November 25, 2024. Madobe's victory, rejected by federal authorities, has deepened divisions between Kismayo and Mogadishu.
Approximately 200 Jubbaland soldiers were recently integrated into federal forces and sent to Mogadishu for advanced training, according to federal officials. These troops are expected to join forthcoming operations aimed at dismantling al-Shabab's presence in southern Somalia.
Federal troops in Raskamboni are tasked with securing areas vacated by the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and conducting counter-insurgency operations.