Thursday December 12, 2024
Jubbaland Minister Abdifatah Mukhtar shared this image purportedly showing Somali National Army (SNA) soldiers surrendering their weapons after heavy fighting in Raaskambooni, Lower Jubba region. The photo, released on Thursday, depicts troops allegedly fleeing to Kenya following Jubbaland forces' capture of the strategic border town.
Mogadishu (HOL) — Jubbaland forces captured the strategic border town of Raaskambooni on Thursday following intense clashes. Jubbaland officials claim that more than 40 soldiers from the Somali army's elite Gorgor unit surrendered during the operation, marking a major setback for the Federal Government of Somalia in its efforts to assert authority over the area.
Jubbaland officials described their forces' takeover of the town as a swift and decisive operation. They claimed that federal troops, including members of the elite Turksh-trained Gorgor unit, abandoned their positions during the offensive.
Jubaland Minister Abdifatah Mukhtar released photos allegedly depicting Somali National Army (SNA) soldiers who reportedly fled across the border into Kenya's Ishakani region.
The Federal Government of Somalia has not issued a statement regarding the loss of Raaskambooni or the reported surrender of its troops. Mogadishu previously warned that Jubaland officials would be directly held responsible for any clashes between regional and federal forces.
Perched on Somalia's southernmost edge, Raaskambooni holds strategic value as a gateway to the Indian Ocean and is close to critical trade and smuggling routes along the Somali-Kenyan border. Jubbaland's close ties with neighbouring Kenya have further complicated these relations, as Somali officials perceive Nairobi to be bolstering Jubbaland's autonomy at the expense of federal cohesion. The area has historically been a hotbed of conflict, serving as a base for the Islamic Courts Union, Ahmed Madobe's Raskambooni Brigade, and later, Al-Shabaab militants.
The capture of Raaskambooni lays bare the intensifying power struggle between Somalia's federal government and Jubbaland, a semi-autonomous state led by President Ahmed Madobe.
Relations between Jubbaland and the Federal Government have been fraught since President Ahmed Madobe's re-election in November 2024, which Mogadishu refused to recognize. The federal government accuses Jubbaland of undermining national unity and resisting reforms aimed at transitioning to a universal suffrage electoral system.
Jubbaland leaders, in turn, have accused Mogadishu of political interference and restricting military resources, forcing the region to rely on its own networks for security.
International actors, including the United Kingdom, have called for restraint and dialogue. "Somalia's progress toward stability hinges on inclusive negotiations," said UK Ambassador Mike Nithavrianakis during a recent meeting with Somali officials.