Somalia: FGS's Aerial Lockdown on Jubaland Sparks New Conflict, Strands Travelers

MOGADISHU, Somalia — The Federal Government of Somalia has taken a drastic step by suspending flights into and out of the Jubaland State, significantly heightening tensions with Ahmed Madobe. The ban has left passengers, including women, children, and sick people in a lurch at airports in both Mogadishu and Kismayo on Tuesday, exacerbating an already tense situation.

This came after fighting between the Somali National Army (SNA) and Jubaland's forces erupted in border towns in the Lower Juba and Gedo regions, resulting in SNA retreats with some soldiers escaping into Kenya.

A particular clash took place in Raskamboni on December 11, where over 1,500 SNA troops were sent by the central government without Jubaland's approval, perceived as an act of aggression by the Kismayo-based administration.

The confrontation led to about 300 SNA soldiers being captured by Jubaland forces as prisoners of war, while more than 600 fled across the border to Kenya, where they surrendered to the Kenyan Defense Forces [KDF]. Jubaland released the SNA soldiers who were then transported back to Mogadishu.

The blockade follows the re-election of Ahmed Madobe as Jubaland's leader, a vote that Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mahamud and Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre have refused to acknowledge. The central government's apparent strategy to remove Madobe through military means has been described by analysts as an ambitious and potentially destabilizing move in an already fragile Somalia.

The Somali government's decision to impose travel restrictions on Jubaland mirrored actions taken by the former administration in 2019. 

The restrictions, which limit travel between central Somalia and Jubaland, are seen by many as a repeat of the political maneuvers from five years ago when Ex-president Farmaajo faced similar disputes with regional leaders over control and autonomy. 

The repeated air travel restrictions are not only a continuation of the central government's approach to dealing with the Federal States but also a sign of escalating conflict over regional governance and power distribution within Somalia. The situation could further complicate peace and unity efforts in a country trying to stabilize after three decades of conflict.

GAROWE ONLINE