At least six people, including two senior officers commanding the opposing sides, were killed, according to local officials and independent sources.

The number of wounded remains unknown.

Jubaland Vice President, Mahmoud Sayid Aden, said yesterday’s fighting was an attack on Jubaland forces stationed in the border village of Aamin.

“Our forces were attacked while in their positions. The federal government is responsible for launching this assault,” said Mahmoud Sayid Aden.

Jubaland troops withdrew from Beled-Hawo after the district was seized by forces led by Abdirashid Janan, recently appointed by Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) as head of security for Gedo region.

Colonel Hussein Giif, the Jubaland police commander in Gedo, and Jubaland officer Farhan Odowa were confirmed dead after being taken to a hospital in Mandera, Kenya.

The Federal Ministry of Defence reported that two of its own officers — Lieutenant Colonel Mohamed Hassan Guutaale and Private Ali Mohamed Gooni — were also killed in the clashes.

The federal government blamed the fighting on the Jubaland administration.

“The national army bravely repelled the attack,” the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Abdirashid Janan, who commands the pro-federal government forces involved in the fighting, issued a warning to the Kenyan government, demanding the return of vehicles he claimed belong to Jubaland forces and had crossed into Kenya.

“We want the Kenyan security agencies to hand over to us the vehicles bearing Somalia’s emblem that crossed the border into Kenya,” said Janan, who has previously been accused of human rights violations.

It is unclear how Kenya will respond to the threat and the ongoing border conflict that has persisted for weeks, posing a risk to the security of Kenyan border areas.

Tense situation

Most residents of Beled-Hawo, a border town, have fled, seeking refuge in areas along the Ethiopian and Kenyan borders.

THREAT TO #KENYA: Somalia national security agency commander in-charge of #Gedo region, Abdirashid Abdinur Janan, has called Kenya authorities to surrender ‘vehicles’ with Somalia marking which he said were used by Jubaland forces and currently inside Kenya.

He said “Kenyan… pic.twitter.com/7YcDZHktri

— Kaab TV (@KaabTV) August 11, 2025

Reports indicate that both sides are mobilising weapons and reinforcements, raising fears of renewed fighting.

The conflict began in mid-last month when the federal government deployed troops from Mogadishu to Beled-Hawo and took control from the Jubaland-aligned district administration.

The ongoing clashes in Beled-Hawo are feared to affect other districts in the region, which are already facing a dire humanitarian situation affecting thousands of displaced people in various parts of Gedo.

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The clashes left more than 30 people dead including civilians and dozens more injured, according to local health workers.

The violence also triggered mass displacement, with hundreds of families fleeing the town under heavy shelling and gunfire.

The conflict erupted last week when federal-backed troops under Janan, deployed from Mogadishu, arrived in Beled-Hawo—a town previously under Jubaland administration.

Janan’s forces established a military base on the town’s outskirts, prompting a standoff with regional troops who surrounded the area.

Residents in neighboring Mandera, Kenya, reported that mortar shells landed in residential neighborhoods as a result of the cross-border fighting.

Many of the displaced residents from Beled-Hawo have now taken refuge in Mandera.

Senior Jubaland officials, including Vice President Mahmoud Sayid Adan and Security Minister General Darwish, are currently in Mandera assessing the situation.

Beled-Hawo, a key border town, was previously among the more stable areas in southern Somalia, despite occasional attacks by the al-Shabaab militant group active in surrounding rural areas.

Janan’s Controversial Role

Abdirashid Janan, a former Jubaland Security Minister and District Commissioner of Doolow, has faced serious accusations of human rights abuses.

Rights groups including Amnesty International and UN monitoring bodies have linked him to civilian killings, obstruction of humanitarian aid, and destabilizing peace efforts.

He was arrested by the federal government in 2019 but escaped from house arrest shortly after—an escape he later confirmed publicly.

The Beled-Hawo takeover came just days after Jubaland forces clashed with federal NISA troops in the nearby town of Doolow. Jubaland forces claimed victory in that confrontation.

The Somali federal government has accused Ethiopian troops stationed in Doolow of backing its forces in the fighting—an allegation that has not yet received a response from Ethiopian authorities.

In a statement, Jubaland’s Ministry of Information condemned what it called a “deliberate and hostile” act by Villa Somalia, accusing the federal government of using donor-supplied aircraft to transport troops to Beled-Hawo.

“Jubaland strongly condemns this shameful aggression orchestrated by Villa Somalia,” the statement said.

While Jubaland has not officially commented on Janan’s takeover of Beled-Hawo, sources indicate that its forces are regrouping outside the town, raising fears of a fresh round of conflict.

Why is Gedo a hotspot?  

The ongoing conflict in Gedo stems from a deepening rift between the federal government and Jubaland’s leadership.

Tensions escalated in November 2024 when Mogadishu rejected the re-election of Jubaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Madobe).

Since then, the federal government has deployed troops across Gedo in an effort to undermine Jubaland’s authority and install a rival administration.

Jubaland has responded by reinforcing its military presence, leading to recurring clashes in Bardhere, Garbaharey, and Doolow—towns located along the Ethiopian border.

Beled-Hawo now marks the latest and most significant flashpoint in this simmering power struggle between Mogadishu and Kismayo.

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The fighting erupted inside the town after Janan’s forces, reportedly airlifted in on two helicopters, advanced towards Beled-Hawo.

Jubaland forces eventually regained full control of the town, while Janan’s fighters retreated to a nearby military base known as “UK Camp.”

Eyewitnesses reported heavy gunfire and the use of military vehicles during the exchange.

Jubaland authorities stated they had captured ten members of Janan’s force, who were allegedly deployed from Mogadishu.

In a statement, Jubaland’s Ministry of Information accused the Federal Government of orchestrating the attack, claiming government-supplied aircraft were used to transport Janan’s troops.

“Jubaland strongly condemns the heinous actions carried out by Villa Somalia,” the statement read.

The Federal Government, in response, blamed Jubaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Ahmed Madobe) for instigating the violence.

Somalia’s Ministry of Internal Security warned against what it called the misuse of armed groups by regional leaders.

“The government issues a stern warning to militias being wrongfully used by Ahmed Madobe,” it said in a statement.

Tensions Remain High

Although the fighting has subsided, tensions remain high in Beled-Hawo.

Residents expressed fears that violence could erupt again, as both sides continue to maintain a military presence in and around the town.

Sources told Kaab TV that Janan remains stationed at the Camp UK with over 200 troops, while Jubaland forces have encircled the area.

Tuesday’s fighting forced many civilians to flee, and local communities fear further displacement if clashes resume.

Jubaland Vice President Mahmoud Sayid Adan, Security Minister Gen. Mohamed Darwish, and senior security officials visited Jubaland positions in the Mandera area today to assess the situation.

Who is Abdirashid Janan?

Abdirashid Abdinuur Janan is a former district commissioner of Doolow and previously served as Jubaland’s Security Minister before falling out with the regional administration.

He has been accused of serious human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings—some involving women—and obstructing humanitarian aid to starving internally displaced people.

Janan was arrested in Mogadishu in August 2019 on charges related to human rights violations but was later released.

Last week, Janan was appointed by Somalia’s NISA to head the agency’s operations in Jubaland.

The incident reflects deepening tensions between the Jubaland administration and the Federal Government, which have clashed over constitutional reforms and electoral processes.

In recent months, the Federal Government has increased military mobilization in Gedo, seeking to assert control and organize elections in areas traditionally under Jubaland’s influence—moves that have been firmly opposed by regional leaders.

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