Somalia: Gedo governor warns against 'unilateral' elections amid FGS-Jubaland standoff

MOGADISHU, Somalia — The Governor of the Gedo region, Abdullahi Shimbir, warned that any elections held in the region must be based on legal frameworks and broad consultation, asserting that regional authorities have been sidelined in the current electoral planning.

Speaking following discussions with Federal Government officials in Mogadishu, Shimbir noted that while talks focused on implementing a "one-person, one-vote" system, the ongoing political friction between the Federal Government of Somalia and Jubbaland President Ahmed Madobe continues to cast a shadow over Gedo.

"We will not accept an election that the people of this region are unaware of and that we were not consulted on," Shimbir said.

The Governor’s remarks come at a sensitive time as the Federal Government—which previously wrested administrative control of Gedo from Jubbaland—pushes forward with plans for direct universal suffrage. Shimbir clarified that despite past tensions, his administration remains part of the Jubbaland State and has resolved its internal differences with the regional seat in Kismayo.

While Shimbir emphasized that there is no active conflict between his administration and the Federal Government, he cautioned that unilateral moves toward an election without a political consensus could trigger fresh security and political instability.

"Efforts are currently underway to resolve the dispute between the Federal Government and Jubbaland," Shimbir added, noting that Jubbaland leadership remains open to dialogue and a political settlement.

The political status of Gedo has long been a flashpoint in Somali politics, often serving as the primary source of contention between the federal leadership and regional states over the management of national elections.

GAROWE ONLINE