Friday Jan 10, 2025 {HMC} The Jubbaland State cabinet has accused Somalia’s federal government of diverting international humanitarian aid for vulnerable communities in Jubbaland to fund armed conflicts within the region.
In a Thursday meeting in Kismayo, the council alleged that aid funds and resources have been misappropriated to organize violent clashes in parts of Jubbaland.
The accusation comes despite the federal government recently dispatching 300 tons of food aid, part of a 700-ton shipment donated by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to the Jubbaland.
The cabinet also condemned the Somali Civil Aviation Authority for allegedly politicizing air travel. According to Jubbaland officials, civilian flights from Jubbaland airports have been suspended under pressure from the federal government, which has reportedly influenced airlines not to operate in Jubbaland cities. The regional administration further accused the federal government of halting development projects in the state.
In November 2024, Jubbaland suspended cooperation with Mogadishu following a contentious dispute over local elections. The regional administration re-elected Ahmed Mohamed Islam Madobe as president for a third term during that period, deepening the divide between the two governments.
Jubbaland, one of Somalia’s five semi-autonomous states, shares borders with Kenya and Ethiopia. The ongoing tensions between the regional and federal administrations highlight broader challenges in Somalia’s federal structure, where competing political interests often undermine efforts to address humanitarian and development needs.
