Thursday March 6, 2025
Kismayo (HOL) – The Jubbaland regional parliament has approved a three-month extension for President Ahmed Mohamed Islam Madobe to form his new cabinet during the parliamentary session in Kismayo on Thursday.
The parliamentary session, attended by 47 members, resulted in a unanimous vote in favor of the extension, according to the Speaker of Parliament. No lawmakers abstained or opposed the decision.
It remains unclear whether the delay in forming the cabinet is due to ongoing disputes between the Jubbaland administration and the federal government or opposition from local clans challenging Madobe’s leadership.
Tensions between the federal government and Jubbaland have escalated in recent months. Mogadishu has imposed sanctions on flights to the region and suspended subsidies previously allocated to Jubbaland’s budget. Also, several development projects in the state have been halted, further straining relations between the two sides.
The standoff dates back to last year when President Madobe withdrew from the National Consultative Council after rejecting a proposal to transition Somalia to a one-person, one-vote electoral system. Instead, Jubbaland held an indirect election that led to Madobe’s re-election—a process the federal government refused to recognize.
The Somali federal government views direct elections as crucial for democratic progress, with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud advocating for an end to the clan-based, indirect electoral model. However, Jubbaland insists on maintaining its constitutional autonomy, contending that the proposed changes infringe on its governance framework.