Ahmed Madobe accuses Somalia’s federal government of hoarding resources, fueling tensions between Jubaland and Mogadishu.
Somalia’s federal fractures have widened yet again as Jubaland’s President Ahmed Madobe launched a direct attack on the government in Mogadishu, accusing it of hoarding resources, sidelining federal states, and acting like a “company” instead of a national government.
Speaking at the Jubaland Investment Conference, Madobe’s rhetoric was uncompromising, signaling escalating hostilities between Mogadishu and the semi-autonomous regional state. His grievances reflect a long-standing power struggle between the Somali central government and its federal member states, particularly over resource distribution, economic control, and security governance.
Madobe’s accusations of deliberate economic marginalization are not new. For years, Jubaland has accused Mogadishu of using development aid as a political weapon, favoring regions that align with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration while punishing those that don’t. With Kismayo’s port serving as a key economic hub, control over customs revenue, international trade, and foreign military partnerships—particularly with Kenya—has been a major flashpoint.
On the flip side, Mogadishu refuses to acknowledge Madobe’s legitimacy, branding his 2019 re-election illegitimate and even going as far as suggesting that he faces active criminal charges. The federal government sees Madobe as a Kenyan-backed strongman whose interests serve Nairobi rather than Somalia’s sovereignty. His strong ties with Kenyan forces, stationed in Jubaland under AMISOM/ATMIS, have only deepened Mogadishu’s mistrust.
This latest war of words is more than just political posturing—it’s a battle for influence over Somalia’s economic and security future. As regional states continue to demand more autonomy, Mogadishu’s attempt to centralize power risks alienating key stakeholders and pushing Somalia further toward fragmentation.
Will Somalia’s federal model survive this escalating crisis, or is this the beginning of a deeper territorial divide?
