MOGADISHU, Somalia – Somali National Army (SNA) forces have withdrawn from Raskamboni town in the Lower Jubba region, just 18 days after their deployment plan ended in failure on Wednesday.
The troop deployment, widely seen as a politically motivated move against President Ahmed Madobe of Jubaland had failed, resulting in their eventual departure from the region.
On Wednesday, heavily armed soldiers from Jubaland state overran all defensive positions held by SNA troops in Raskamboni, leaving many soldiers dead and wounded.
Deputy Minister of Security for Jubaland, Aden Ahmed Haji, confirmed that they had taken over the town and captured dozens of SNA soldiers during the battle.
Minister Haji added that the wounded soldiers, along with those taken as prisoners of war, were transported to Kismayo, a town 274 km away from Raskamboni.
On Friday, two planes evacuated all soldiers from Raskamboni to Mogadishu, ending the political tensions with President Madobe.
Tensions emerged on November 25 when Madobe was re-elected for a third term in an indirect election, defying Somalia’s push for unified elections.
In response, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud deployed hundreds of troops to Raskamboni to remove Madobe and arrest him for election violations.
Madobe set a 15-day ultimatum for Mohamud to withdraw troops and on the eve of the deadline, his forces regained control of the town, securing his rule.
Wednesday’s conflict in Raskamboni echoed the 2013 Kismayo clashes, when Madobe resisted Mohamud’s efforts to oust him, ultimately maintaining control of Jubaland.
Somalia has not used a nationwide election system since 1969. It is still unclear if President Mohamud will seek a compromise with Jubaland leadership or push forward with his popular election plan.
