Mogadishu — More than 50 members of Somalia’s bicameral federal parliament have jointly issued a stern warning over what they describe as increasing political interference by the federal government in the affairs of the Jubbaland regional administration.
The lawmakers — representing both the Upper House and the House of the People, and elected from constituencies in Jubbaland — accused outgoing President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of attempting to destabilize the federal system for political gain.
“We have closely observed a dangerous political agenda led by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, reminiscent of his previous term (2012–2017), which triggered violence, displacement, and widespread destruction in areas including Ras Kamboni, Kismayo, Doolow, Buulo Xaawo, and Bardhere,” the lawmakers said in a joint statement.
The statement alleges that during such military operations, national armed forces and public funds were misused, creating vacuums exploited by the al-Qaeda-linked extremist group Al-Shabaab to regain territory.
The legislators outlined five key concerns in their warning:
- Ongoing military offensives and political interference targeting Jubbaland.
- Efforts to dismantle Jubbaland’s regional institutions and replace them with parallel administrations.
- Attempts to incite clan and regional conflict to divide local communities.
- Misappropriation of national military and financial resources for partisan political agendas.
- Federal policies aimed at pitting national and regional forces against each other, undermining the fight against terrorism.
Calling for restraint and dialogue, the lawmakers appealed to all stakeholders:
“We urge the Federal Government, regional administrations, the international community, and all political actors in Somalia to resolve disputes through genuine dialogue, consensus, and inclusive consultation.”
They further stressed the importance of unified efforts in the war against terrorism and warned against actions that could threaten national unity or security.
This statement marks one of the strongest parliamentary rebukes yet regarding the growing rift between the federal government and Jubbaland, highlighting the severity of the ongoing political tensions in Somalia.
