Kismayo, (Idil News) โ Jubaland authorities have accused Somaliaโs federal government of orchestrating a coup attempt against state president Ahmed Mohamed Islam, commonly knownย asย Ahmedย Madobeย ย by offering bribes to senior regional police officials.
Captain Abdikahim Hassan Arten (Jabuuti), a high-ranking Jubaland police commander, claimed he was approached with a $90,000 bribe to support an alleged plot to overthrow Madobeโs administration. Arten Jabuuti, speaking at a press conference,ย displayed the cash and named Mohamed Fanah, a former district commissioner now allied with Somaliaโs central government,ย as the intermediary.
This money was sent to me by individuals connected to Villa Somalia [Somaliaโs presidential office], seeking my cooperation to destabilize Jubalandโs government, Arten Jabuuti said.
The allegations were supported by Jubalandโs Police Chief, Major Artan Jabuuti, who presented financial receipts during the same briefing. He accused Somaliaโs Minister of Education, Farah Sheikh Abdulkadir who facilitating three separate payments amounting to $720,000 to influence regional officials.
These funds, drawn from taxpayer money and international aid, were used in an attempt to compromise Jubalandโs autonomy, added by Major Arten Jabuuti. โWe will not trade our sovereignty for political bribes.โ
Federal Government Yet to Respond
The Somali federal government has not commented on the allegations. However, the accusations come at a time of heightened tensions between Mogadishu and Kismayo, which has repeatedly resisted efforts to centralize power. Jubaland an autonomous region in southern Somalia, boycotted recent federal initiatives, including proposed constitutional amendments that regional leaders say threaten their autonomy.
Air Travel Disruption and Election Disputes
Adding to the unrest,ย ย Somaliaโs federal government grounded flights at Mogadishuโs Aden Adde International Airport destined for Kismayo,ย ย the regional capital of Jubaland.
The federal government reportedly pressured airlines to transport troops to Ras Kamboni, near the Kenyan border, but airlines declined, fearing a confrontation with Jubaland authorities,ย who had warned against unauthorized military deployments.
The flight suspensions left passengers stranded and deepened the standoff between the federal government and Jubaland.
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These developments follow an election dispute that escalated into a brief firefight in late November,ย ย further straining relations between the two governments.
Jubaland state has accused federal government based in Mogadishu is attempting to undermine its electoral process to install loyalists.
Regional Implications
The mounting tensions could draw in external actors after Somaliaโs government has accused Ethiopia of โinterferenceโ in its internal affairs and โcreating confrontationโ among communities in Gedo region.
In a statement by the Somali Ministry of Information, said;
Ethiopian troops this morning departed from Doolow to Bulo Hawo town but were blocked by the locals and Somali government forces.. Analysts suggest Addis Ababa may leverage the instability to bolster its presence in Jubaland as part of its ongoing geopolitical competition with Somalia and Egypt.
The escalating conflict reveals the fragility of Somaliaโs federal system and increasing alarms about potential external and internal violence, as well as the need for greater transparency in governance.
Reporting by ๐ฏ๐. ๐๐๐๐๐๐; Editing by Idil News (Staff)