Madobe hints at possible end of dispute with Villa Somalia

KISMAYO, Somalia - The protracted dispute between President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo and Jubaland leader Ahmed Islam Mohamed Madobe could culminate in a peace deal in August, reports have emerged, following the Dhusamareb conference where the two leaders held closed-door meetings.

Both Madobe and Farmajo have been at loggerheads with their differences often degenerating into heated political debates and at times, clashes between Somali National Army [SNA] and Jubaland security forces, who support the rival factions in the entire fiasco.

Speaking in Kismayo on Friday, Madobe, who is serving his second term, said the "bitter" dispute with Villa Somalia would probably end in a peace deal before the much anticipated second phase of talks between the Federal Government of Somalia and the Federal Member States, which will commence on August 15 in Dhusamareb.

The Jubaland President termed his preliminary talks with Farmajo as "successful", adding that all homegrown problems will have internal solutions for the sake of a stable Somalia. He did not, however, reveal the specifics of his talks with Farmajo, which were brokered by Ahmed Kariye alias Qoor Qoor of Galmadug.

"This situation will end and the people of Somalia will move forward as a team," he told the press adding that: "We shall get a long-lasting solution before we start the second phase of Dhusamareb talks. We identified our main dispute and we agreed to reach a truce, we can't be at loggerheads forever."

Somalia, Madobe added, must strive to ensure peace prevails for the sake of stability. He said the country continues to lag behind due to "petty" politics and "small" differences which can be solved at lower levels, adding that all leaders should be guided by the spirit of unity and togetherness.

"We can solve some of these small and petty issues through mutual respect. As your leaders, we have that obligation and this has informed our decision to solve the matter. We want a united Somalia where development supersedes all our internal issues," added Madobe, who was welcomed by a host of local leaders.

Madobe was among five regional leaders who had convened in Dhusamareb for the talks between FGS and FMS. The meeting resolved to establish a technical committee that would recommend the proper model for elections which are scheduled for later this year.

The deal would come four months after Madobe reconciled with local leaders opposed to his leadership after several months of talks in Nairobi. Among others, the local political leaders agreed to recognize his victory with Madobe also promising to form a unity government besides quitting local politics when his second term ends.

For months, Jubaland has accused Madobe of plotting to establish a parallel administration in the Gedo region, a move that informed Kismayo's several correspondences with the international community. Farmajo, Madobe had claimed, was using SNA and Ethiopian non-AMISOM troops to topple his regime.

Some reports from Addis Ababa claimed that there were plans by ENDF to abduct Madobe during the August 2019 elections and have him taken to Ethiopia. But having managed to stay put, the crisis led to clashes between SNA and Jubaland forces in February this year, in an incident that was widely condemned by the international community.

In May, Farmajo partially recognized the Jubaland administration but insisted that fresh elections should be held in 2021 instead of 2023. However, the latest gesture is an indication that the Somali president may have retracted his statement, leading to the unprecedented U-turn by Madobe.

Farmajo has often been under attack from FMS leaders who accuse him of plans to install "friendly" leaders who would assist him "rig" upcoming elections. In February, top regional presidential aspirants in Galmadug quit from the race when it emerged that Villa Somalia was backing Qoor-Qoor.

The deal by Farmajo and Madobe would end a standoff in Gedo, which has witnessed political fireworks since last year.

For instance, Farmajo has been at loggerheads with Abdirashid Janaan, the Jubaland interior minister and a close ally of Madobe, who was arrested before fleeing from a Mogadishu prison after five months of "illegal" incarceration.

GAROWE ONLINE