Jubaland Denounces Federal Troop Deployment in Raas-Kamboni

KISMAYO – Jubaland State of Somalia has condemned what it termed as unlawful deployment of federal troops in the Raas-Kamboni region on Monday afternoon.

The semi-autonomous state said the actions by the central government are destabilizing and undermine the security and stability of the state.

This follows the election of President Ahmed Mohamed Islam Madobe in the port city of Kismayo.

Madobe won the state Presidential election with a landslide after garnering 55 votes out of the total 75 Members of parliamentarians. Feisal Matan came second with 16 votes.

A statement, issued by the Ministry of Internal Security, accused the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) of sending a clan-based militia to Raas-Kamboni, violating both legal and constitutional procedures.

The Jubaland government noted that the arrival of these forces goes against the previously agreed-upon military arrangements, including the withdrawal of African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) forces from the region.

According to the statement, no formal or informal request was made by Jubaland for additional federal troops in the region.

The government also underscored that all strategic locations previously vacated by ATMIS forces, such as Burgavo, Kudhwa, Abdalla Birole, Elwak, and parts of Kismayo, have now been fully secured by Jubaland’s own forces.

Low bed carriers, carrying artillery tanks belonging to the Kenyan Defence Forces (KDF) under ATMIS, seen leaving the Gherille Forward Operating Base (FOB) in the Jubaland State of Somalia. This move comes after the base was handed over to Somali Security Forces on June 29, 2023.

The federal government’s deployment in Raas-Kamboni, according to the statement, is an attempt to create instability in the region and weaken Jubaland’s security infrastructure.

The ministry asserted that these actions are part of an ongoing effort by the Federal Government to destabilize the region.

“We are warning that the Federal Government would be held responsible for any negative consequences or escalation that might arise from this situation,” said the Ministry.

It has called upon the Somali people and the international community to remain vigilant and recognize the potential dangers posed by such actions.

Tensions continue to rise between the Federal Government and Jubaland over an election held on Monday.

The central government in Mogadishu believes the process contradicted Somalia’s government and federal member states’ position which announced the introduction of universal suffrage with local elections set for June 2025.

Political leaders in Somalia, constituting President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Prime Minister Hamza Bare, the Mayor of Mogadishu and Presidents of four federal member states attended a council meeting which proposed universal suffrage election early this year.

Puntland and Jubaland, the leading federal member state administrations with strong local revenue generation have opposed the announced path to nationwide one-person, one-vote elections.

Jubaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam, also known as Madobe, withdrew from the talks at the National Consultative Council meeting in Mogadishu.

During the summit last October, the leaders agreed on a framework for the country’s first national one-person, one-vote elections that is opposed by the states.

Former Somali Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire criticized the actions of the Somali Federal Government against the State following the Presidential election held on Monday.

He expressed concern over what he described as a “misguided ambition” driving federal leaders to deploy national forces to Jubaland.

According to Khaire, this move will fuel conflict in the region and poses a key threat to peace and security in Eastern Africa.

The former Prime Minister called on the federal authorities to immediately halt the actions that were contributing to the destabilization of Jubaland.

He warned that these actions were providing an opportunity for extremist groups to exploit the situation, further endangering the stability of Somalia and the Horn ofA frica.

Former President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed warned the Federal Government leaders against using the national army for political purposes.

He urged them to refrain from creating tensions or destabilizing the Jubaland region.

Sheikh Sharif urged President Ahmed Madobe to take an active role in resolving the complex political challenges facing Somalia.