Tuesday 12, Nov 2024 {HMC} Somalia is facing a mounting political crisis as tensions between the federal government and the southern state of Jubbaland escalate over a disputed electoral reform plan. Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre called an emergency cabinet meeting on Sunday to address a deeply divisive issue, with Jubbaland’s leadership rejecting federal election proposals in favour of regional autonomy.
At the center of this dispute is the federal government’s push for a one-person, one-vote system to transition Somalia from its traditional clan-based, indirect electoral model to direct elections. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud argues this shift is essential to Somalia’s democratic progress, allowing citizens to elect representatives directly. However, Jubbaland’s President Ahmed Madobe has firmly opposed the move, viewing it as an infringement on regional rights and an attempt to centralize power in Mogadishu. Madobe has publicly doubted the feasibility of the federal government’s plan.
In a response on Saturday, Madobe established a seven-member State Independent Committee for Borders and Elections, asserting Jubbaland’s right to manage its electoral affairs without federal intervention. The federal Ministry of Interior quickly condemned the committee as “illegitimate,” warning that the unilateral action risks destabilizing the state and undermining Somalia’s fragile federal structure.
Opposition groups in Jubbaland state have also rejected the appointment of the electoral commission, threatening to hold a separate election in Kismayo if their demands are not met.
Jubbaland announced the suspension of all cooperation with Mogadishu, citing constitutional principles and the need to protect regional governance as reasons for the split, adding that federal interference could jeopardize local security and governance efforts.
In a related statement, the federal government questioned the legitimacy of President Madobe’s leadership, arguing that his term expired in August 2023.
The stakes are high, particularly in Jubbaland’s Lower Juba region, where the federal government reportedly pulled troops from positions in the fight against Al-Shabaab. The withdrawal, Jubbaland officials claim, has left key areas like Kismayo vulnerable to insurgent threats, raising fears that security could deteriorate as the political rift widens.
With pressure mounting on all sides of the dispute, Prime Minister Barre is set to travel to Kismayo, hoping to mediate a solution through direct dialogue.
