On 11 December 2024, heavy fighting erupted between Somali Armed Forces and Jubaland regional forces in the Marnani area near Ras Kamboni. After Federal Government of Somalia deployed Somali National Army from Mogadishu to the region in an attempt to throw out President Ahmed Madobe from the Office.[5][6][7][8][9]
| Battle of Ras Kamboni | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Somali Civil War (2009–present) and Constitutional crisis in Somalia | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Jubaland |
Supported by:  Turkey[1] | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
 Gaashaanle Dhexe Adan Ahmed Haji |
 Lt. Col. Hassan Iraqi  | ||||||||
| Units involved | |||||||||
|
| ||||||||
Somali National Army's Unit Gor Gor was defeated by Jubaland Force's Unit Birjeex and Federal government retreated.[10]
After ended up wiped out by Jubaland forces Kenya plans to allow 600 stranded Gor Gor to return to Mogadishu who crossed the ishiakani border in Lamu County.[11][12] Over 250 Somali Armed Forces soldiers surrender to the Jubaland Dervish Force. Injured and survived fighters returned to Mogadishu, and eventually Jubaland regained Ras Kamboni control.[13]
Background
editA constitutional crisis took shape in Somalia when the Somali President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, changed the Constitution of Somalia on April 30, 2024. The change was opposed by the President of Puntland Said Abdullahi Deni. As a result, Puntland withdrew its recognition of the Federal Government of Somalia and declared itself an independent state citing Article 4 of the Puntland Constitution.[14]
On March 31, 2024, Puntland announced its withdrawal from the federal system, Puntland cabinets in their emergency meeting stated their intention to govern independently until constitutional amendments proposed by the central government are ratified through a nationwide referendum.[15]
Jubaland election
editOn 3 November, Jubaland invited their Members of Federal Parliament from the state to come to Kismayo for discussions, after rising tensions between Jubaland and the federal government, and the resignations of the State Minister of Planning, Abdirashid Jire and a deputy minister in the Ministry of Education, the following day Jubaland cut ties to Federal Government of Somalia.[16]
2024 Jubaland presidential election were held in Jubaland on 25 November. The incumbent president Ahmed Mohamed Islam was re-elected by members of the House of Representatives as the President of Jubaland for a third term. It was the third election since the state's formation in 2012. Prior to the elections, the Parliament Speaker and other Deputy Speakers were elected on 21 November, by the House of Representatives of Jubaland amid tensions with the federal government that resulted in Somali National Army being deployed to Kamboni, Badhadhe District in Lower Juba region.[17]
On November 27, 2024, The Banadir Regional Court in Mogadishu, Somalia, issues an arrest warrant for Jubaland President Ahmed Madobe, accusing Madobe of treason and violating the constitution.[18] In response, the regional court in Kismayo, Jubaland, announces a $100,000 reward for the arrest of Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, accusing Hassan of treason, undermining national unity, and conspiring with Al-Shabaab militia.[19][20]
Clash
editOn December 11, 2024, heavy fighting broke out early in the morning between Jubaland Dervish forces and (Somali: Gor-Gor) of Somali National Army in Manaraani, north of Ras Kamboni.[21]
The dawn battle erupted over vital Oodow Well, the only water source for Ras Kamboni, located 6 kilometers from the town. Gor-Gor reportedly launched the attack, fearing Jubaland Dervish forces had positioned themselves in Burgabo, near Ras kamboni.[21]
Timeline
edit- On 4 November, a delegation of mediators from Kenya was led by the former IGAD Executive Secretary, Mahboub Maalim, the former IGAD Special Representative for Somalia, Mohamed Abdi Affey, and the former senator for Wajir County, Abdirahman Ali Hassan arrived in Kismayo to meet president Ahmed Madobe, after President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, requested from the Kenyan government to work towards finding a solution to the tension between Jubaland and Federal Government of Somalia.[22]
- On 18 November, Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre said Ahmed Madobe could not run for office again because his term had ended.[23] Abdifatah Mohamed Mukhtar, the Jubaland Minister of Information, disagreed. He told BBC Somali, "The Prime Minister should remember that he once said Jubaland had its own independent elections. Now he is saying those elections are not valid."[24][25]
- On 19 November, Mursal Siad Mohamed, the chairman of the Jubaland Electoral Commission, chaired a meeting with the traditional elders of Jubaland's tribes as they submitted the list of new members for the Third Jubaland House of Representatives.[26][27] The commission also announced the new Members of Parliament and confirmed that the election for the Speaker of the Jubaland Parliament is scheduled to take place on 21 November.[28][29] The Supreme Court of Jubaland takes an oath in the 75 newly Representatives MP's approved by the Traditional Leaders.[30][31]
- On 21 November, Abdi Mohamed Abdirahman was re-elected as Speaker for a third term and secured 65 votes. His opponent, Ismail Abdi Keerow, got 7 votes.[32] Hirad Ismail Mohamed was elected as the First Deputy Speaker with 56 votes, while Mahad Mohamed Ahmed received 18 votes.[33] Abdi Baley Hussein became the Second Deputy Speaker after getting 51 votes. His opponent, Abdirashid Ali Mohamud received 22 votes.[34]
- On 23 November at least one security officer was killed and two others were injured in a gunfight between Jubaland police and security guards in Kismayo,[35] After rival candidates backed by the federal government announced a parallel election amid a disagreement on the electoral procedure for the presidential election. [36][37]
- Jubaland authorities said they concerned about interference from Somalia's Federal Government during its elections were highlighted by the Ministry of Interior on 23 November.[38] It accuses the Office of the Prime Minister of misusing UN and ATMIS resources for political purposes that were undermining neutrality and stability. Jubaland describes these actions as unconstitutional and calls on international partners to respect Somalia’s federal system and support fair and peaceful governance.[39]
Aftermath
editResult
editJubaland's Deputy Security Minister, Adan Ahmed Haji, stated during a press conference in Kismayo that federal forces from Mogadishu used Turkish-supplied Bayraktar TB2 drones to attack Jubaland forces.[8] He criticized the Somali government for using military resources intended to combat external threats like Al-Shabaab against Jubaland, which he described as "peaceful." Additionally, he mentioned that 42 Turkish-trained Gorgor soldiers surrendered shortly after the battle.[6]
After six hours of intense fighting, Jubaland forces took control of Ras Kamboni and defeated Somali National Army division Gor Gor brigade.[40] The Somali Armed Forces failed to overthrow Ahmed Madobe, and 600 soldiers cross over into Kenya and are disarmed by the Kenya Defense Forces and over 250 Somali Armed Forces soldiers surrender to the Jubaland Dervish Force.[41] Remained Federal troops and injured soldiers redeployed to Mogad8shu after Defeat.[42]
On Thursday, Jubaland authorities confirmed the capture from the battle of Lieutenant Colonel Hassan Adan Mohamed 'Iraqi', the commander of the Gor Gor unit's 18th Battalion.[43]
Reactions
editLocal
edit- Puntland’s Interior Minister, Abdi Farah Said Juha, criticized Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and accused him of waging war against his own people. He highlighted reports of federal government drone strikes targeting Jubaland troops instead of Al-Shabaab and called for reconsidering the lifting of the arms embargo.[23]
- Former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire and Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame released a joint statement urging an end to the violence.[44][45]
International
edit
UK: condemned and described “unacceptable loss of life”
UK in Somalia🇬🇧🇸🇴 @UKinSomalia
A statement on violent conflict in Jubaland ⬇️
December 12, 2024[46]
References
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- ^ "Somalia: SNA soldiers lose Raskamboni battle to Jubaland troops, surrender to KDF". 30 June 2020.
- ^ "Somali Federal Government Lost and Jubaland Forces Secured Full Control of Ras Kamboni".
- ^ https://nation.africa/africa/news/kenya-to-help-600-stranded-somalia-soldiers-to-return-home--4855576
- ^ "Maxay Jubaland ka tiri eedeynta dowladda federaalka ee ah inuu xiriir kala dhaxeeyo al-Shabaab?". BBC News Somali (in Somali). 2024-12-12. Retrieved 2024-12-13.
- ^ a b Abdi Sheikh, Abdiqani Hassan (2024-12-11). "Fighting breaks out between Somalia's Jubbaland region and federal government, officials say". Reuters. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
- ^ "Somalia: Fighting Erupts in Jubaland State After U.S. Warning". Garowe Online. 2020-06-30. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
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- ^ "Somalia's Puntland refuses to recognise federal government after disputed constitutional changes". Reuters. 31 March 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ "Somalia: Puntland refuses to recognise federal government after disputed constitutional changes". Africanews. 2024-04-02. Retrieved 2024-07-23.
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- ^ 𝕯𝖗. 𝐗𝐈𝐃𝐃𝐈𝐆 (2024-11-27). "Jubaland Regional Court Issues Arrest Warrant for President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Charges of Treason". Idil News. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
- ^ a b Shino, Abdirisaq (2024-12-11). "Somalia: Heavy Fighting Erupts Between Jubaland and Federal Troops". Horseed Media. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
- ^ "Waa kuwama saddexda nin ee Kenya kasoo jeeda ee dhexdhexaadinaya dowladda federaalka iyo Jubaland?". BBC News Somali (in Somali). 2024-11-14. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
- ^ a b "Somalia PM: Ahmed Madobe's Re-election Bid in Jubaland Illegal". Garowe Online. 2020-06-30. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
- ^ "Jubaland maxay ka tiri hadalkii uu ra'iisulwasaare Xamse ku dhaliilay madaxdeeda?". BBC News Somali (in Somali). 2024-11-18. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
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- ^ 𝕯𝖗. 𝐗𝐈𝐃𝐃𝐈𝐆 (2024-11-21). "Jubaland Parliament Re-Elects Speaker And Other Deputy Speakers". Idil News. Retrieved 2024-11-23.
- ^ "Jubaland votes for leadership as political fault lines deepen across Somalia". www.hiiraan.com. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
- ^ "Gunfight in Kismayo leaves one dead, heightens Federal-Jubbaland tensions". www.hiiraan.com. Retrieved 2024-11-23.
- ^ GROUP, NTV KENYA-NATION MEDIA. "NTV Kenya: Jubaland: Rival candidates announce parallel election plans". NTV Kenya. Retrieved 2024-11-23.
- ^ Obala, Roselyne Obala (2024-11-23). "Jubaland: Rival candidates announce parallel election plans". NATION. Retrieved 2024-11-24.
- ^ Y, Ali (2024-11-23). "Jubaland oo digniin u dirtay Hay'addaha UN-ka iyo ATMIS". Horseed Media. Retrieved 2024-11-24.
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- ^ Maxamed, Jamaal (2024-12-12). "Jubbaland oo gacanta ku dhigtay taliyihii hogaaminayay ciidankii Raaskambooni | Caasimada Online". Retrieved 2024-12-12.
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- ^ UK in Somalia🇬🇧🇸🇴 [@UKinSomalia] (December 12, 2024). "A statement on violent conflict in Jubaland ⬇️" (Tweet) – via Twitter.