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Jubaland refuses to attend Mogadishu Conference
KISMAYO, Somalia -- The Jubaland administration on Somalia's southern tip officially declared that it wouldn't attend a Mogadishu conference called by the Somali Federal Government on Monday, Garowe Online reports.
That's done it...
Jubaland leader, Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Madobe) held a press conference in southern port city of Kismayo and said that the Jubaland reconciliation conference was to have taken place in Kismayo, accusing federal government officials of diverting from "the promise".

"I am declaring that Jubaland won't attend the Mogadishu conference," he told the reporters.

Meanwhile, Madobe blamed Somali military forces Chief Gen. Dahir Adan Elmi (Indho-Qarsho) who recently visited Kismayo for campaigning to push armed clan militias led by former warlord, Barre Adan Shire (Barre Hirale) into the southern city, "We welcome all militias including Al Shabaab and Barre Hirale's militiamen who are willing to lay down their arms but they wouldn't be allowed to enter Kismayo" stated Madobe.

Despite undisclosed row between Federal Government of Somalia in Mogadishu and Jubaland, Ahmed Madobe's remarks might show the renewing rifts.

Madobe traveled to Mogadishu where he met President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon in September.
Posted by: Steve White 2013-10-09
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=377337