The announcement was made by Senator Abdullahi Ismail Fartag, Somalia’s Minister of Internal Security, who is currently in the Gedo region holding meetings with clan elders, politicians, and security forces.

Tensions between the Federal Government and Jubaland authorities have been running high.

Earlier this month, Jubaland forces defeated Somali government troops in a confrontation in Raaskaambooni, and clashes were also reported in the Gedo region, which borders Ethiopia.

Despite the ongoing hostilities, Minister Fartag stated that the Federal Government is committed to holding elections administered by Mogadishu in Kismayo and six other cities within Jubaland, including Gedo, where the situation remains tense.

“We will ensure that a one-person, one-vote election takes place in Jubaland. That is what Ahmed Madobe does not want,” Fartag declared during a speech in Garbaharey, the regional capital of Gedo.

Last month, Jubaland held its state-level election in Kismayo, re-electing President Ahmed Madobe for another five-year term. It remains unclear how the Federal Government plans to implement its election amidst the current political and security challenges.

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The initial clashes, which saw over a thousand Somalia federal soldiers surrender to Kenyan forces, dozens killed or injured, and some still missing, have now expanded to other parts of Gedo and Lower Jubba regions.

The conflict threatens to destabilize these areas further, which are already significantly influenced by Al-Shabaab insurgents. Given the proximity of these regions to Kenya and Ethiopia, the ongoing hostilities pose a heightened risk of regional spillover.

The current tensions began when the Somali federal government, based in Mogadishu, deployed nearly 2,000 Turkish-trained troops alongside presidential guard units and intelligence forces to the coastal town of Raas Kaambooni, just 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the Kenyan border.

The controversial deployment aimed to advance towards Kismayo, the interim capital of Jubbaland, with the objective of apprehending Jubbaland’s leader, Ahmed Mohamed Islam, popularly known as “Madobe.” of the Ogaden/Daarood clan.

This move followed an arrest warrant issued by a Mogadishu-based judge from President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s Abgaal/Hawiye clan. In response, a Kismayo judge issued a reciprocal arrest warrant for President Mohamud, escalating tensions further.

Decisive Clashes in Raas Kaambooni

The situation culminated in a major confrontation on December 11, when Jubbaland’s elite units, known as Abris and Birjeh, launched a surprise attack from the beachside on federal forces positions in Raas Kaambooni.

The four-hour battle ended in a humiliating defeat for the federal troops. Over 600 soldiers were captured alive, while others fled to Kenya, where they were seen surrendering barefoot and disarmed to the Kenyan Defense Forces.

Jubbaland’s Minister of Information, Abdifatah Mohamed Mukhtar, confirmed the release of captured soldiers, stating, “Jubbaland facilitated their departure smoothly, providing care and respect, despite the soldiers initially acting on misguided orders from their commanders.”

Kenyan sources reported that over 1,100 Somali troops surrendered, and Mogadishu requested their return via air transport.

The Somali federal government has remained tight-lipped about the debacle, while Jubbaland capitalized on the victory to bolster its position.

Conflict Spreads to Gedo and Lower Jubba

The conflict has since expanded beyond Raas Kaambooni.

In Gedo, Somali federal authorities dispatched a delegation led by Internal Security Minister General Abdullahi Ismail Fartaag, who hails from the Marehan clan.

Arriving in Garbaharey, Gedo’s provincial capital, Fartaag held meetings with clan elders and mobilized local forces.

Meanwhile, Jubbaland replaced Gedo’s governor, Abdullahi Abdi Jama, with Sheikh Mohamed Al-Qaadi, a former Ahlu Sunna militia commander.

Both sides have continued deploying troops and weapons. Jubbaland forces reportedly received support from Ethiopian troops stationed in the region, while Mogadishu reinforced its positions.

On December 23, clashes erupted in Dolow, a strategic border town hosting numerous humanitarian organizations and thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs).

The fighting, which began when federal forces attempted to arrest Jubbaland officials, left at least four people dead.

Jubbaland forces regained control of the town by midday. The violence forced businesses to shut down and residents to flee, with some crossing into Ethiopia for safety.

Adding to the turmoil, Jubbaland officials accused Somali federal forces of kidnapping a local humanitarian worker in Dolow.

The federal government has not commented on the allegation.

In Lower Jubba, fighting erupted in Kulbiyow, near the Kenyan border, as federal forces, backed by a former Jubbaland district commissioner Muhumed Fanah from the Ogaden/Daarood who defected, clashed with Jubbaland troops.

The skirmish resulted in five deaths and temporarily forced Jubbaland forces to withdraw from the town.

Jubbaland’s Minister of Security, General Yusuf Hussein Dhumal, vowed to retake Kulbiyow, urging the public to “wait and see what happens.”

Al-Shabaab Exploits the Chaos

Amid the conflict, Al-Shabaab has sought to capitalize on the instability.

On December 23, a landmine detonated on a road between Beledhawo and Dolow, targeting a Somali government military vehicle.

The explosion killed several officers and destroyed the vehicle, highlighting the group’s continued threat in the region.

The ongoing hostilities between Jubbaland and federal forces have severe implications for civilians and regional stability.

In Dolow, humanitarian operations are under strain, and further clashes risk triggering a refugee crisis as residents flee to neighboring Kenya and Ethiopia and the prospect of a resolution remains uncertain, with both sides entrenched in their positions.

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The minister’s visit comes against the backdrop of intensifying tensions between the Federal Government and the Jubbaland administration.

The escalating political and military disputes have further deepened divisions in the region.

The ministerial delegation was initially scheduled to land in Baardheere, but Minister Fartaag reportedly refused to allow the plane to touch down there.

Instead, the plane rerouted and landed in Garbahaaray, a move that underscores the shifting dynamics in the conflict-ridden region.

The visit follows the Federal Government’s humiliating defeat in Raaskaambooni last week. In response, Somali authorities have been mobilizing troops across the Gedo region, aiming to wrest control of the area from Jubbaland’s administration.

The tension has escalated the ongoing power struggle between the Federal Government in Mogadishu and Jubbaland, whose leadership operates from Kismayo.

Observers fear that this latest development may ignite further hostilities in the region.

While the purpose of Minister Fartaag’s visit remains unclear, sources confirm the presence of Abdullahi Abdi Jama (Shimbir), the recently ousted governor of Gedo under Jubbaland, in Garbahaaray.

Insider reports suggest that additional federal troops are being assembled in strategic parts of the Gedo region.

The government appears to be planning an offensive to seize districts currently under Jubbaland’s control, a move that could further destabilize the already fragile region.

This unfolding situation highlights the deepening rift between Somali authorities and regional administrations, raising concerns about the broader implications for national stability.

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