The government of Somalia’s Jubbaland cuts ties with the central government

After a disagreement over local elections in Jubbaland, Somalia’s semi-autonomous Jubbaland state government said Thursday that it would no longer work with or talk to the central government in Mogadishu.

Jubbaland is one of Somalia’s five semi-autonomous states. It borders Kenya and Ethiopia. On Monday, Ahmed Mohamed Islam Madobe was re-elected as regional president for a third term.

The national government in Mogadishu, which was led by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, was against the election, though, because it was held without any federal participation.

Somalia’s breadbasket is Jubbaland, and the country’s city, Kismayo, is a strategically important port. As a result of its shoreline, a maritime area with possible oil and gas resources is strongly disputed by both Somalia and Kenya.

The election dispute got worse, so the federal government issued an arrest warrant for Madobe. On Thursday, Jubbaland did the same for President Mohamud.

This fight is happening at the same time that Mogadishu’s relationship with Somaliland, which is one of its areas and is trying to get recognized as a separate country by the rest of the world, is getting worse.

“The government of Jubbaland has officially and completely stopped working with and talking to the Federal Government of Somalia,” a statement from Jubbaland’s state house said.

Jubbaland said Mohamud broke the constitution, was corrupt, stoked fights between clans, and put Somalia’s fight against Islamist rebels at risk.

Wednesday, a regional court in Mogadishu asked for Madobe’s arrest, saying he was guilty of treason and giving foreigners secret information.

Both Madobe and Mohamud are in charge of big groups of troops, so it’s still not clear how the warrants will be carried out.

It was up to the courts to enforce the law, according to Daud Aweis, Somalia’s information minister. He did not reply right away when the ties were cut.

When asked for a response, Yusuf Dhumal, who is the security minister of Jubbaland, did not answer.

In answer to the election earlier this week, the national government sent more troops to Jubbaland.

In 2021, other regional governments, including Jubbaland, almost went to war with the national government over plans to extend the term of President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed.