Mogadishu, Somalia – Somali Prime Minister Hamze Abdi Barre has made strong allegations against the leadership of Jubbaland, accusing them of undermining the federal government and refusing to honor national agreements.
Speaking during a recent address, the Prime Minister criticized Jubbaland’s president, Ahmed Madobe, and his administration for what he described as deliberate efforts to destabilize the federal government.
“The leaders of Jubbaland have signed all the agreements that were reached in good faith. However, when it came to implementing those agreements, they refused and withdrew from the National Forum,” said PM Barre. He further stated that it had become “clear” that Jubbaland’s leadership was pursuing “an agenda other than the one they promised to the people and to God.”
The Prime Minister accused Ahmed Madobe, who has led Jubbaland for over 12 years, of attempting to cling to power by organizing elections designed to maintain his hold on the region’s leadership. “The leadership of Jubbaland is trying to oust the federal government,” he claimed, while also criticizing Madobe for lacking the initiative to foster national unity.
The remarks underscore a growing rift between the federal government and Jubbaland, one of Somalia’s semi-autonomous states. Jubbaland has often been at odds with Mogadishu over political and security issues, with accusations of unilateralism and mistrust frequently surfacing on both sides.
Ahmed Madobe’s extended tenure as Jubbaland’s leader, along with his efforts to oversee elections that critics allege are not transparent, has drawn scrutiny. Jubbaland remains the only federal member state whose leadership has not changed since its establishment, fueling criticism of stagnation and a lack of democratic progress.
The tension comes at a critical time as Somalia navigates complex challenges, including security threats from Al-Shabaab, regional clan dynamics, and efforts to finalize a federal constitution. It remains unclear how this dispute will impact the broader goals of federal unity and stability in Somalia.
Efforts to reach representatives of Jubbaland for comment on the Prime Minister’s accusations were unsuccessful at the time of publication.
