MOGADISHU, Somalia – The United States and the United Kingdom have expressed concerns over the growing political tensions between Somalia’s central government and Jubaland, a regional member state.
The tensions emerged last month after President Ahmed Madobe held an indirect election and secured a third term as leader of Jubaland, despite the central government’s call for unified elections.
In response, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud rejected the results by deploying military units to Ras Kamboni, a town in the Lower Jubba region, in an effort to remove Madobe from office.
UK Ambassador to Somalia Mike Nithavrianakis met with Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre to discuss the escalating tensions with Jubaland and the need for a peaceful resolution.
“We discussed the ongoing political tensions, ways to resolve them, and critical security issues,” Nithavrianakis said. “The UK remains committed to supporting Somalia’s progress.”
On Tuesday, U.S. Ambassador to Somalia Richard Riley also urged the feuding leaders to avoid escalating their political rift into armed conflict, undermining the country’s fragile democratic process.
Ambassador Riley called on both Mohamud and Madobe to pursue a peaceful resolution. He also said an armed confrontation would only benefit Al Shabab, an al-Qaeda-linked group.
“This cannot be a repeat of 2013 or 2019. You must not go to armed conflict. Dialogue should be the only way out,” he said.
Despite calls for restraint, heavily armed soldiers from both the central government and Jubaland are in a standoff in the region, raising fears that the tensions could lead to a full-blown conflict.
