Wednesday February 19, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — Jubaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam, better known as Ahmed Madobe, launched a blistering attack on Somalia’s federal government, accusing it of hoarding power and resources while neglecting the country’s regions.
Speaking at the Jubaland Investment Conference, Madobe dismissed the federal government as an administration that functions solely in Mogadishu, ignoring the needs of federal member states. He accused President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s government of withholding Jubaland’s rightful share of national resources and politicizing development projects, exacerbating economic hardships in his region.
“As long as this system remains in place, we expect nothing from the federal government. We do not recognize it as a national administration working for Somalia’s collective interests,” Madobe declared. “To us, it is simply a company operating in Mogadishu.”
His remarks underscored the deepening rift between regional states and the central government. Jubaland, a strategically significant region bordering Kenya, has long been at odds with Mogadishu over governance and security. Madobe, who has led the region since 2013, has repeatedly clashed with federal authorities, particularly over control of Kismayo’s lucrative port and the presence of Kenyan troops in the area.
The federal government, for its part, has rejected Madobe’s legitimacy, refusing to recognize his 2019 re-election, which it deemed unconstitutional. Somali authorities have also accused the Jubaland leader of national offences, claiming he faces an active arrest warrant.