Somalilandsun: Somalia’s federal government has formally requested an Interpol Red Notice to arrest Jubbaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam, also known as “Madobe.”
The Banadir Regional Court in Mogadishu authorized the request, accusing Madobe of treason, collusion with foreign powers, and actions undermining Somalia’s national unity
This move is the latest chapter in a bitter feud between the Somali federal government and Jubbaland’s semi-autonomous administration. The rift intensified after Madobe withdrew from crucial government consultations last month, throwing Somalia’s already fragile state-building process into further uncertainty. The charges against him signal a deepening divide that threatens to destabilize the country.
An Interpol Red Notice, while not an international arrest warrant, serves as a request to locate and provisionally detain an individual pending extradition. While it relies on cooperation from member states, this international alert can severely restrict Madobe’s ability to travel and engage in diplomatic activities, isolating him from potential international allies.
Somali authorities claim that Madobe collaborated with foreign governments to destabilize the nation, sharing sensitive national security information. Federal officials argue that his actions obstruct Somalia’s efforts to implement much-needed electoral reforms, including the much-debated “one person, one vote” system.
However, Jubaland officials have denounced the charges as politically motivated, accusing Mogadishu of using legal avenues to weaken regional autonomy and power.
The legal clash has triggered a tit-for-tat response, with Jubaland’s First Instance Court issuing an arrest warrant for Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, accusing him of treason and inciting rebellion. These parallel legal actions underscore the growing tension between Somalia’s central government and the Jubbaland administration.
This as an unprecedented legal conflict in Somalia.
The conflict between Jubaland and Somalia is rooted in a combination of political, historical, ethnic, and strategic factors:
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