Kismayo, Jubbaland – The Jubbaland regional government has criticized Somalia’s federal government for airlifting troops to Garbaharey, a town Mogadishu aims to designate as the state headquarters instead of Kismayo, the interim capital.
Multiple reports state that National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) troops arrived in the town on Friday, an action that may heighten tensions between President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Jubbaland leader Ahmed Islam Mohamed Madobe.
The regional administration called the deployment provocative, particularly as Jubbaland pursues operations to free towns from Al-Shabaab control. Jubbaland forces are positioned along the Jilib corridor, working to liberate villages still held by Al-Shabaab.
Kismayo officials warned that the deployment, amid ongoing shuttle diplomacy to restart talks with Mogadishu, intensifies an already fragile security landscape and threatens counter-terrorism efforts along the Jilib-Jamaame corridor, a primary Al-Shabaab bastion.
Intelligence indicates militants are shifting toward zones near Mogadishu, sparking worries over threats to the capital. The Jubbaland administration has clashed with President Mohamud regarding constitutional amendments.
Jubbaland contends these amendments could permit unconstitutional term extensions for federal and regional leaders. President Mohamud advocates direct elections, though Jubaland deems this approach unviable due to the nation’s limited resources.
Jubbaland, a federal member state of Somalia with substantial autonomy, asserted that the federal deployment erodes the state’s political authority and labeled it an unnecessary destabilizing measure.
Mogadishu has provided no official explanation so far, but Jubbaland pledged to safeguard its political mandate and encouraged the international community to observe the growing tensions.
