Jubaland accuses Somali president of Gedo attacks

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Monday July 28, 2025

FILE - Jubaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Madobe)

Mogadishu (HOL) — Jubaland has accused Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of orchestrating coordinated attacks on the towns of Balad Hawo and Doolow in the Gedo region, warning that the federal government’s actions threaten to destabilize the country’s fragile security landscape as Al-Shabaab militants make territorial gains.

In a press release issued Sunday, Jubaland said federal forces based at a UK-backed military training facility on the outskirts of Beledxaawo launched sustained attacks on the town over the past week. The offensives, it claimed, were led by a commander unaffiliated with the Somali National Army and transported by a military aircraft dispatched under presidential orders.

“These attacks were carried out at a time when civilian flights are grounded,” the statement said. “While ordinary Somalis are denied air access, military aircraft are being used to transfer forces in violation of Somali airspace authority.”

The administration alleged that the attacks destroyed homes and displaced dozens of families, accusing the federal forces of intentionally targeting civilian areas.

The violence escalated further on Saturday night when federal troops allegedly attacked Jubaland military installations in Doolow, another strategic town in Gedo. Jubaland described the move as “a deliberate attempt to spark a broader conflict in the region.”

“Jubaland remains committed to protecting its people, defending its territorial integrity, and resisting any illegitimate plans by the accused, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud,” the press release stated.

No official response has been issued by the federal government in Mogadishu.

The renewed hostilities have once again drawn attention to the ongoing power struggle between federal authorities and regional states, especially in contested areas like Gedo, where control has repeatedly shifted between rival factions aligned with Mogadishu and Kismayo.

Jubaland also condemned the government’s failure to prevent the fall of Maxaas town in the Hiiraan region to Al-Shabaab militants over the weekend. The statement warned that political infighting among government leaders was diverting attention and resources away from the fight against insurgents.

“The fall of Mahaas reflects the consequences of a government more focused on regional domination than national security,” Jubaland said. “Instead of uniting efforts to defeat Al-Shabaab, resources are being wasted on unconstitutional conflicts.”

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