KISMAYO, Somalia – In a dramatic press conference on Thursday in Kismayo, Captain Abdikahim Hassan Arte, also known as Jabuuti, the police commander of Jubaland’s northern zone, unveiled a plot to overthrow Jubaland President Ahmed Madobe. Arte showcased $90,000 in cash, claiming it was a bribe from Mohamed Fanah, the former Badhaadhe district commissioner who has recently sided with Somalia’s central government, aimed at staging a coup against Madobe.
According to Arte, the funds were part of a wider conspiracy by elements within the Somali government, referred to as @TheVillaSomalia, to destabilize the regional administration by ousting Madobe. The police commander affirmed his loyalty to Jubaland, denouncing the attempt to corrupt him.
The incident highlights the simmering tensions between the semi-autonomous state of Jubaland and Mogadishu’s federal government. These tensions have escalated since Madobe’s controversial re-election for a third term, which was not recognized by the Somali federal government, leading to claims of electoral irregularities and power struggles.
In response to Madobe’s re-election, the Somali federal government has deployed additional troops to Raskamboni, a strategic town within Jubaland’s Lower Juba region, allegedly to enforce federal authority and possibly to exert pressure on Madobe’s administration. This military deployment has been interpreted by some in Jubaland as an attempt to intimidate or undermine the regional government, further stoking fears of potential conflict.
The deployment of government forces to Raskamboni and the alleged coup attempt underscores the complex political landscape in Somalia, where regional leaders often clash with central authorities over issues of autonomy, security, and governance. This situation continues to challenge the fragile stability in the region, with both sides accusing each other of actions that could lead to further unrest.
HORN LIFE
