Doolow, Somalia – Tensions spiked on Sunday evening in Doolow town, located in Somalia’s Gedo region, after federal government troops were reportedly ambushed by forces loyal to the Jubbaland administration. The deadly confrontation unfolded as federal troops resisted disarmament efforts, prompting a fierce exchange of gunfire that has shaken the fragile security environment in the area.
Local officials aligned with the federal government have accused the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) of providing support to Jubbaland troops under President Ahmed Mohamed Islam Madobe. These claims come at a particularly sensitive time, as Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is currently in Addis Ababa for a diplomatic visit.
“The disarmament operation launched by Jubbaland forces was not coordinated with the federal command in Gedo. It was an ambush, and the presence of Ethiopian forces backing Jubbaland fighters is a dangerous escalation,” a senior federal security official in the region said.
Jubbaland officials have yet to release a formal statement, but sources close to the state government claim the operation was a necessary measure to stabilize the area and bring local forces under one command structure. They argue that the federal troops stationed in Doolow are acting independently and undermining regional security arrangements.
The situation in Doolow remains fluid and highly volatile. Residents report widespread panic, with many families fleeing to safer areas. The town, located along the Ethiopia-Somalia border, holds strategic importance for both the federal government and the Jubbaland administration.
This is not the first time Doolow has witnessed such confrontations. Gedo region has been the epicenter of a protracted power struggle between the Somali federal government and Jubbaland state over military control, local governance, and political authority.
Analysts warn that the current flare-up risks derailing ongoing efforts to foster reconciliation between Mogadishu and regional states. “The use of foreign forces to tilt the internal balance of power is extremely destabilizing and could undermine Somalia’s sovereignty,” said a Mogadishu-based political analyst.
As the standoff continues, the federal government has called for an immediate ceasefire and announced an investigation into the involvement of foreign troops. Meanwhile, humanitarian agencies are monitoring the displacement of civilians and preparing for potential fallout if fighting escalates.
The crisis in Doolow underscores the urgent need for a political settlement and a unified security structure that respects Somalia’s federal constitution, while preventing foreign interference from exacerbating internal divisions.