MOGADISHU, Somalia – A plane carrying units of the Somali National Army (SNA) and police personnel has landed in Garbaharey, Gedo region, just under 100 km from the borders of Kenya and Ethiopia.
Upon arrival on Thursday, heavily armed soldiers disembarked from the aircraft and established a secure perimeter, preparing for any potential threats to their presence.
The city also saw the arrival of a delegation led by Somalia’s Minister of Security, Abdullahi Sheekh Ismail, along with lawmakers and senior military officers flown in from the capital, Mogadishu.
Minister Ismail said his visit aimed to expedite operations against the Al-Shabaab group in Gedo. He is also expected to meet with local authorities and elders to discuss development plans for the region.
Reliable sources suggested the city is now a hub for the military campaign against Jubaland President Ahmed Madobe, who is embroiled in political disputes with the Somali government.
The move came a week after SNA troops deployed to Raskamboni town in the Lower Jubba region last month for similar maneuvers, which ended in a full withdrawal.
President Madobe is reportedly enraged by the troop deployment to Gedo, a region under his control, without his consent, further escalating tensions.
Tensions began on November 25 when Madobe was re-elected in an indirect election, defying the government’s push for unified elections across Somalia.
Despite the failure of its military operation in Raskamboni, the government continues to seek Madobe’s removal from office, intending to put him on trial for electoral violations and treason.
Political analysts suggested that Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is unlikely to abandon implementing a nationwide election system, which Somalia has not used since 1969.
They warned that if Mohamud and Madobe fail to resolve their political rift through dialogue, the standoff could escalate into an armed confrontation similar to Raskamboni.
In 2013, during his first term, Mohamud clashed with Madobe when he refused to step down, resulting in fierce fighting in Kismayo. Madobe held his ground and has continued to lead Jubaland ever since.
Mohamud now finds himself in the same position as his predecessor, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, whose election reforms were rejected, leading Somalia to an indirect election to avoid further bloodshed and unrest.
