Somalia's Govt mobilising troops in Gedo after Raskamboni defeat

KISMAYO, Somalia - Jubaland accused the Somalia government of mobilising troops in the volatile Gedo region, despite setbacks in Raskamboni town, where several Gorgor soldiers had been dispatched to organise a possible coup against Ahmed Islam Mohamed Madobe.

In a statement, the Jubaland administration said several federal troops had been mobilised in the Gedo region to "undermine our security" after a series of losses at Raskamboni last week. The administration warned against the "retrogressive approach".

Last week, federal soldiers estimated to be 600 surrendered to the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) along the Kenya-Somalia border where they are expected to be repatriated to Mogadishu. But the latest developments show that the federal government is determined to wrestle Madobe out of power.

Madobe insists he is the legitimate leader of Jubaland after winning the third term but President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud maintains the country must adopt direct elections as part of radical constitutional changes, which Jubaland says would lead to term extensions.

After the defeat in Raskamboni, Hassan Sheikh summoned a National Security Council meeting where he discussed the transition in the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) arrangement and security challenges in the country.

Ex-Somali PM Abdi Shirdoon says the country is dealing with multiple wars which could lead to its ultimate collapse should leaders fail to embrace consensus and dialogue. He blamed the leadership for repeated violations of the constitutional provisions.

"Two wars have plagued our country in the past — the fight against Al-Shabaab and tribal conflicts — but now a third war has emerged which the Federal Government of Somalia launched against its Federal Member States. Unfortunately, instead of the expected decrease in hostilities, the number of conflicts appears to be on the rise," he said.

He added: "The Raskambooni incident has opened a new warpath; everything is possible for us to see, and the country does not operate according to what is written in the constitution but rather follows what the old man [president] wants."

Shirdoon made the remarks during his speech to the Somali community in Minneapolis, USA. More leaders have shared similar views, with some accusing Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of engineering the collapse of federalism which has held the fragile country, tight.

GAROWE ONLINE