Somalia: Jubaland Leader Rejects Ruto's Plea, Snubs NCC Talks on Election Reforms

NAIROBI, Kenya - Jubaland leader Ahmed Madobe has reportedly rejected proposals from Kenya's President William Ruto that sought his support for the deliberations from the National Consultative Council (NCC), which effectively backs illegal term extensions.

Madobe, a fierce critic of Mogadishu policies, is said to have been invited to Kenya by Ruto, upon the request of Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who had visited Nairobi during a series of shuttle diplomatic missions across East and the Horn of Africa.

Hassan Sheikh, pushing for radical constitutional changes, is stuck after Jubaland refused to back his advances, citing 'gross violation' of the provisional federal constitution. He is going for universal suffrage elections and calling for the end of indirect polls.

At Eldoret in Western Kenya, Madobe is said to have held a two-hour session with President William Ruto and Kenya's spy chief Noordin Haji. The closed-door meeting is said to have concluded on Friday night, with clear decisions.

Madobe reportedly maintained his position, confirming he won’t participate in the National Consultative Council (NCC) meeting scheduled today in Mogadishu, where the Somali federal government and leaders from three federal member states are expected to convene.

This Kenya-Jubaland meeting comes just a day before the critical NCC discussions. Kenya is a close partner of Somalia on matters of security and Jubaland plays the buffer zone strategy, helping the Kenya Defence Forces strategically tackle the al-Shabaab militants.

Before the Eldoret meeting, Puntland leader Said Abdullahi Deni expressed unwavering support for Jubaland over its decision to hold its elections in accordance with the country's constitution. He made the remarks during his address at the opening of Puntland's 55th parliamentary session in Garowe.

The Mogadishu-based Federal Government of Somalia lacks authority to impede or delay a federal state's electoral process, Deni added. Just like Madobe, Deni has frequently criticised Mogadishu policies on federalism, which he terms as 'dangerous'.

The building internal conflict in Somalia comes at the time the country is transitioning from the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) which takes over in January 2025.

GAROWE ONLINE