Saturday March 1, 2025ย {HMC} Jubbaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam Madobe has revealed that his decision to walk out of the National Consultative Council (NCC) meeting was due to discussions on extending the federal government’s termโsomething he firmly opposed.
Speaking to a local media outlet in Kismayo last week, Madobe emphasized that he was the only Darod politician present at the meeting after Puntland’s leader boycotted the talks and SSC-Khatumo was not invited.
Madobe also criticized Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, describing him as a leader without real authority.
“The Somali government today operates like a private company, similar to how things were run in 1991. The Prime Minister has no real powerโhe is just an employee with no decision-making role,” Madobe stated.
Addressing the recent Raskamboni clashes between federal troops and Jubbaland forces, Madobe claimed that he had repeatedly warned the government about escalating tensions.
“Jubbaland was fully prepared for the battle, and we ensured minimal losses on our side. The results of the conflict were clear, and unfortunately, many Somali soldiers surrendered to Kenya,” he added.
Madobe further accused the Federal Government of constitutional violations and overstepping its legal boundaries, stating that the administration in Mogadishu was dismantling past agreements reached among Somali political stakeholders.
The Jubbaland president also criticized the federal government’s handling of the war against Al-Shabaab, pointing to the militant group’s persistent attacks in Hiiraan and Middle Shabelle as proof of the Somali National Army’s (SNA) lack of will to fight.
However, the Somali military recently announced successful operations, killing over 200 Al-Shabaab fighters in air and ground offensives across Middle Shabelle and Hiiraan. The government says the militant group has suffered heavy losses in recent clashes involving local clan militias.
In November 2023, Jubbaland re-elected Ahmed Madobe for a third term as regional president. However, the Mogadishu-based federal government, led by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, opposed the election, arguing that it was conducted without federal oversight.
Jubbaland, which borders Kenya and Ethiopia, remains a strategically important region in Somalia’s political and security landscape.
Hiiraan online
