Somalia: Banadir court issues arrest warrant for Jubaland President

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Jubaland president Ahmed Islam Mohamed Madobe could be charged with treason, a Banadir court disclosed while issuing an arrest warrant against the firebrand leader who has openly defied the federal government on the model of elections in the country.

Madobe, a renowned battlefield commando, conducted indirect elections in Jubaland, clinching his third term in power, a move which further irked Somalia. Regional lawmakers elected him en-masse, results published on Monday show.

But with Mogadishu pushing for direct elections after the enactment of crucial laws, the  Attorney General was requested to take action against Madobe for conducting 'illegal and unconstitutional' elections. On his part, Madobe maintained that he was 'legitimately' elected.

On Wednesday, the court in Mogadishu issued an arrest warrant against Madobe who has been involved in political disagreement with the country’s federal leaders. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud supports the universal suffrage model of elections.

The court says following a request from the office of Somalia’s Attorney General it wants the leader of Jubaland Ahmed Mohamed Islam arrested for “treason” and for allegedly sharing national information with a foreign country and for acts against the constitution.

"The Banadir Regional Court has issued an arrest warrant for Ahmed Madobe, former Jubaland state president, on charges of treason, including undermining national unity, sharing sensitive information with a foreign country, and attacking Somalia’s constitutional framework," state media reports.

Although it's not clear which country Madobe shared information with, he is a close partner of Kenya given the operations by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) in Lower Jubba. Kenya uses Jubaland as a buffer zone in the al-Shabaab war and recently, it dispatched mediators to Mogadishu to calm tensions.

However, Madobe’s dalliance with Addis Ababa has lately improved despite the initial setbacks after Ethiopia's relationship with Somalia strained significantly. Somalia accuses Ethiopia of annexation plans after it signed an agreement on access to the Red Sea with Somaliland.

As a retaliation strategy, Ethiopia's relationship with Jubaland has blossomed with the two sides now fighting Mogadishu’s policies. Madobe vowed to mobilize regional soldiers after the federal government deployed elite troops to Raskamboni and El-Wak towns.

In defense, the government said the troops were positioned strategically in bases handed over by the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), a claim disputed by Jubaland. There were clashes between the two entities on Tuesday.

This comes amidst an ongoing transition from ATMIS to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) which Egypt shall play a key role. Already, Somalia has ruled out the participation of Ethiopia in the mission.

On Wednesday, Egyptian Defense officials inspected the Egyptian Armed Forces units reportedly scheduled to be deployed in Somalia as part of the upcoming African Union mission.

The officials witnessed some training and rehabilitation activities for units and elements planned to travel during the coming period before the January 2025 takeover. Analysts argue the ongoing political tensions in Kismayo would significantly jeopardize the fight against Al-Shabaab.

GAROWE ONLINE