MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Tuesday called on Jubaland regional forces who fled into Kenya following fierce clashes with Somali National Army to return home, assuring them of safety and reintegration.
In a statement, President Mohamud extended condolences to the families of those killed in weeks of fighting between federal troops and forces loyal to Jubaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam, also known as Ahmed Madobe.
The confrontations, centred around the strategic town of Balad Hawo in Gedo region, have intensified tensions between Mogadishu and the semi-autonomous Jubaland administration. Government forces are reported to have gained the upper hand in recent days.
Addressing the defected fighters, Mohamud said they would be welcomed “as brothers” and offered the opportunity to rejoin the Somali National Army, emphasizing that no harm would come to them upon their return.
“I urge all parties involved in Gedo tensions to place peace, unity, and national cohesion above all else,” the president said, despite his own government being a key actor in the ongoing conflict.
Jubaland authorities swiftly responded, accusing President Mohamud of escalating the violence and attempting to undermine the autonomy of regional government. In a strongly worded statement, Jubaland leadership warned they would not succumb to federal pressure or allow the dismantling of their state institutions.
They further held the federal government accountable for the bloodshed, mass displacement, and suffering endured by residents of Gedo region during recent clashes.
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