Jubbaland state officials have accused Somalia’s federal government of “deliberately obstructing” a passenger flight that was bound for Kismayo from Dhobley city after forcing it to make a stopover in Mogadishu on Sunday.
Jubbaland’s leadership alleged that the move sought to restrict travel and frustrate regional mobility. According to local authorities, the flight had already been cleared for its route but was compelled to divert to Mogadishu before continuing onward. Federal officials have yet to issue a public response to the accusations.
The incident comes at a politically sensitive moment as Jubbaland’s President, Ahmed Madobe, is on a key visit to Garowe for talks with Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni. The meeting between the two leaders is viewed as a sign of shifting alliances and a rebalancing of power in Somalia’s federal landscape.
The strained relations between the federal government and some federal member states, including Jubbaland and Puntland, have persisted over the past few years, often revolving around resource sharing, elections, and security coordination. Observers say that this latest dispute over flight routes could add further tension to already fragile relations as Somali leaders navigate the country’s complex federal dynamics.