Somalia's PM Roble visits Jubaland ahead of his first trip to Kenya

KISMAYO, Somalia - Somali Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble is visiting Kismayo, the interim capital of Jubaland, as part of his pre-election preparations, as he seeks to oversee a credible election in the Horn of Africa nation.

The PM accompanied by senior Federal Government officials, including finance minister Abdirahman Dualle Beileh received a warm welcomed at the airport from Jubaland president Ahmed Madobe and, state authorities members of the public.

Jubaland state has been at loggerheads with Mogadishu for years over national issues after outgoing president Farmajo imposes travel restrictions on Kismayo to isolate Madobe, a move that further acerbated the humanitarian crisis in the region.

A few minutes past 11a Mogadishu time, Roble was photographed at Adan Adde International Airport, where he boarded his aircraft. He's the first senior FGS official to visit Jubaland in as many months, given the rivalry between the two entities.

Sources said the aim of Roble's trip is centered on the administration formation for Garbaharey and reconciliation in Gedo, the epicenter of the worst electoral dispute in Somalia. Jubaland and FGS had differed on the management of elections in the two regions.

Jubaland President Ahmed Islam Mohamed Madobe, who is set to hold talks with Roble, had initially accused President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo of plotting to install his preferred candidates in the two regions, as a strategy to weaken the Kismayo administration.

The allegations featured in the FMS and FGS talks in recent weeks. As part of restoring faith to the upcoming elections, stakeholders settled on Roble to lead the exercise, arguing that he had shown commitment and impartiality, effectively throwing Farmajo out of the picture.

Somalia is set to hold elections from July 25 this year, which will culminate in presidential elections scheduled for October 10. Already, the electoral dispute resolution committee has elected by secret ballot Abdullahi Abyan Nur as the Chairperson of the commission.

After the Kismayo trip, sources say Roble might jet to Kenya, where he could hold a meeting with President Uhuru Kenyatta. During the inauguration of Omar Ismail Guelleh in May, Uhuru gave Roble a special invitation, which he's yet to honor.

Kenya and Somalia have been at loggerheads in recent months, with the operations of KDF in Jubaland and the Indian Ocean maritime border being on top of disputes. Somalia also accuses Kenya of supporting the Jubaland administration to its detriment.

GAROWE ONLINE