Dolow, Gedo Region (KAAB TV) – The Federal Government of Somalia is intensifying efforts to deploy additional military forces to the border town of Dolow, located in the Gedo region of southern Somalia.
This strategic location, which borders Ethiopia, is currently hosting troops from both the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) and soldiers affiliated with the Jubbaland regional administration—a move that underscores the growing competition for influence in the region.
According to reliable sources, a high-level delegation of Somali government officials attempted to land at Dolow airport within the past 24 hours. The delegation reportedly included senior military officers, among them the Commander of the Somali National Army’s Land Forces, as well as top officials from the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA).
However, their aircraft was denied landing clearance and forced to abort its mission, indicating heightened tensions and possible political obstruction on the ground.
In response to the aborted landing, the delegation rerouted to the Ethiopian side of Dolow, where they held a closed-door meeting with senior commanders of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), specifically the Ethiopian contingent stationed in the area.
Among the key topics discussed were the current security dynamics in the Gedo region, regional stability, and the need for enhanced coordination between Somali federal forces and Ethiopian troops operating under the ATMIS mandate.
The meeting is seen as part of the Somali Federal Government’s broader strategy to reassert its authority in Gedo, a region that has long been a flashpoint for power struggles between the central government in Mogadishu and the semi-autonomous Jubbaland administration, led by President Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Madobe).
Tensions have been particularly high in recent weeks amid growing speculation that a new regional administration may be announced for parts of the Jubbaland state, with Gedo poised to serve as its political and logistical launching point.
These developments have raised alarms in Kismayo, Jubbaland’s administrative capital, where leaders view the Federal Government’s actions as attempts to undermine their autonomy.
Political analysts note that Gedo has historically been contested territory due to its strategic location, local clan dynamics, and proximity to the Ethiopian border.
The region has frequently found itself at the center of federal-regional disputes, with control of the area symbolizing wider political influence in the country’s fragile federal system.
As the Federal Government continues to maneuver diplomatically and militarily, it remains unclear how these efforts will affect the already delicate balance of power in southern Somalia.
Observers warn that without a comprehensive and inclusive approach to local governance, security interventions may only further complicate the region’s volatile political landscape.