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| Africa Horn |
| Raskambooni Clash Sparks Deep Divisions in Somali Federal Leadership |
| 2024-12-16 |
What they’ve been doing in Somalia while our attention was on Israel, Syria, and domestic American politics: 15-12-2024[Garowe] A major rift has emerged among the top leadership of Somalia’s Federal Government following the recent festivities in Raskambooni. The incident saw Somali National Army (SNA) troops cross into Kenyan territory after being overwhelmed in battle, while others surrendered to Jubbaland forces. The fallout from the defeat has led to accusations within the Federal Government. Somali National Army Chief of Staff Gen. Odowaa Yusuf Rageh has directly blamed Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre and the Commander of Ground Forces for the debacle. Gen. Odowaa has reportedly threatened to resign unless clear accountability is taken for what he described as a "catastrophic failure." "This incident has inflicted severe damage on the reputation of the Somali National Army and eroded the trust that the international community had in us," Gen. Odowaa reportedly stated during a high-level meeting. PRESIDENT HASSAN SHEIKH SCRAMBLES TO CONTAIN POLITICAL FALLOUT Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has been holding extensive consultations with advisors and key political figures since returning to Mogadishu. The Raskambooni incident is said to have upended Villa Somalia’s political strategy, particularly its efforts to align Jubbaland President Ahmed Mohammed Islam (Madobe) with federal policies. Neither Villa Somalia nor the Office of the Prime Minister has commented publicly on the Raskambooni incident. Meanwhile, ...back at the the conspirators' cleverly concealed hideout Montefiore's foot was still stuck and the hound had completely soaked his uniform with slobber... captured federal troops are being repatriated to Mogadishu, raising questions about the Federal Government’s handling of the situation. INTERNATIONAL CONCERNS GROW OVER FEDERAL RESPONSE The international community has expressed significant concern over the Federal Government’s management of the crisis. The U.S. Ambassador to Somalia, Larry André, is expected to meet with President Mohamud in the coming days to address the incident, which has been described as a serious blow to the Federal Government’s credibility and its efforts to maintain international support. Kenya to Send Back Over 600 Somali Soldiers Stranded After Raskamboni Defeat 15-12-2024 [Garowe] The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) will repatriate more than 600 Somali National Army (SNA) soldiers stranded along the Kenya-Somalia border, just days after they lost the battle to claim Raskamboni, a strategic town in Jubaland. After hours of intense fighting, the overwhelmed Somali troops retreated to the Kenya-Somalia border, where they sought refuge in a KDF Forward Operating Base, surrendering weapons as a result, multiple security sources confirmed. Kenya's Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo confirmed the presence of SNA soldiers at a KDF base in Lamu County, just a few yards from Raskamboni, a strategic town we'll guarded by Kenyan troops and those from Jubaland. “They laid down their arms. We are now working on how to take them back home," Omollo said, adding that Kenya respects existing mutual and bilateral relations with the government of Somalia. Trouble began when SNA forces from the elite Gorgor contingent attacked a base controlled by Jubaland while provoking Kismayo in pursuit of the removal of Ahmed Islam Mohamed Madobe from power, after winning his third consecutive term as a regional leader. Jubaland claimed control of the town, with reports of ten federal soldiers killed after heavy clashes, forcing the government of Somalia to withdraw the soldiers with some taking refuge in the KDF base. Somalia's government warned that legal actions will be taken against those involved. Somali Deputy Minister of Information Abdirahman Yusuf Al-Adala alleged, “There is clear evidence that Al-Shabaab played a consequential role in the attack on government forces.” Jubaland denied these claims. Although the government of Somalia insists the elite soldiers were deployed to take bases left by exiting African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) troops, Jubaland says there was a conspiracy to overthrow President Madobe. Kenya’s involvement in Jubaland dates back to military operations against Al-Shabaab and its support for Ahmed Madobe. However, this has sometimes led to tensions with Somalia’s federal government, forcing KDF to take a neutral stand in the latest regional conflict in Somalia. Somalia: Jubaland releases second batch of captured SNA troops 15-12-2024 [Garowe] The regional government of Jubaland has released the Somali National Army (SNA) troops who were captured during Wednesday's clashes at Raskamboni, signaling possible dialogue with the federal government, which was accused of trespass in the region. The second group of Somali soldiers taken prisoner by Jubaland regional forces during Wednesday's battle in Raskamboni were flown back to Mogadishu on a private flight on Sunday. Over 600 soldiers surrendered to the Kenyan military at the border and they are now awaiting repatriation. The SNA soldiers had been dispatched to the area following a standoff between Jubaland's President Ahmed Madobe and the Somali federal government over the Kismayo election last month. At least 83 soldiers who had been taken prisoners were released and evacuated to Mogadishu, where they were deployed to fight the regional administration of Ahmed Islam Mohamed Madobe, the Jubbaland leader. The soldiers, including elite Turkish-trained Gorgor and Haram'ad brigades, were transported to Mogadishu on two flights from Raskamboni, on Friday, multiple sources from Jubaland confirmed to Garowe Online. "The dead were buried, wounded treated, and the captured returned to Mogadishu," said the soldiers. Jubaland officials accused the FGS of deploying troops hundreds of miles away from Mogadishu for political gains while Al-Shabaab is outside the capital of Somalia. Madobe insists he is legitimately elected in Jubaland, asking the federal government to 'restrain' from acts of war. Mohamud Fanah, the district commissioner of Badhadhe who sided with the federal government against Ahmed Madobe, along with 40 soldiers from the Somali National Army (SNA), crossed into Kenya following the loss of Raskamboni to Jubaland forces on Wednesday, Jubaland media reported. Authorities in Kenya said 600 Somali National Army soldiers would be repatriated to Somalia after they surrendered in a Kenya Defence Forces Forward Operating Base within Lamu County in Kenya. Meanwhile, Jubaland Vice President Mohamud Sayid Aden met Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, Ethiopia army chief of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces in Addis Ababa where they discussed ENDF support for Jubaland troops amid war with Somalia forces. The meeting comes as Jubaland soldiers overpowered SNA in Raskamboni and expelled them from the area after heavy fighting on Wednesday that forced government soldiers and their commanders to surrender to KDF at the border. Somali Forces Repel Attack in Lower Juba, Accuse Jubaland Leader of Al-Shabaab Ties 11/12/2024 [ShabelleMedia] Somali National Armed Forces (SNA) repelled an attack on their forward operating bases in Raskamboni, Lower Juba, by regional troops led by Jubaland leader Ahmed Madoobe, the defense ministry said on Wednesday. The SNA had been securing the bases and preparing for enhanced anti-terrorism measures in the region when the assault occurred. They effectively countered the attack, maintaining control over the area and ensuring continued stability. In a statement, the Ministry of Defense condemned the assault and accused Madoobe of collusion with al-Shabaab militants. The ministry noted that Madoobe’s forces could only have reached Raskamboni by crossing through al-Shabaab-controlled territory, indicating a coordinated effort with the insurgents. This cooperation, they said, highlights a dangerous partnership. Somali government forms committee to probe Ahmed Madobe’s militant links 12/12/2024 [ShabelleMedia] The Somali Council of Ministers, under the leadership of Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, announced the creation of a new investigative committee during their weekly meeting on Thursday. The committee’s mandate includes examining any connections between Ahmed Madobe, a suspect currently sought by judicial authorities, and his alleged involvement with militant groups, particularly Al-Shabab. The formation of this committee comes in the wake of escalating security concerns in the region. Ahmed Madobe, who has been on the run, is accused of orchestrating attacks that have destabilized areas under government control. The committee’s investigation will focus on Madobe’s role in the recent assault on Raskamboni, a strategic town in the Lower Juba region, which saw significant civilian displacement and loss of life. |
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