Gedo on Edge: Abdirashid Janan Implicated in Rising Unrest  

BELED-HAWO, Somalia - Tensions remain high in Beled-Hawo township within Gedo region following Tuesday’s clashes that left 10 people dead, with several others injured, with both sides reinforcing their military presence in what signifies further confrontation.

The federal troops engaged in a fierce gunfight with the Jubaland regional forces, who have since taken over the strategic border town, but the newly appointed Gedo intelligence chief, Abdirashid Janan, is accused of mobilizing federal troops in the town.

Abdirashid Janan arrived in the town by helicopter, landing at a military installation on the outskirts of Balad Hawo, a town situated near the Kenyan border. Residents were engaging in their daily activities when the incident took place, officials said.

“No one anticipated Janan’s arrival or the ensuing violence,” the journalist said while referring to Janan, who is said to be preparing voter registration within Gedo despite genuine concerns by the Jubaland administration, which has called for dialogue.

Still, residents say, a good number of federal troops remain in Gedo region, leading to tensions — with Jubaland troops ready to defend their territory. The federal government is yet to state with regard to escalating tensions.

Eyewitnesses corroborated that federal forces were pushed out of the urban center but continue to hold key strategic positions outside the town, leading to the current tensions. Federal troops staged a similar confrontation in Ras Kamboni and El-Wak in Jubaland a few months ago.

Opposition leaders swiftly condemned the outbreak of violence. In a joint statement, they accused President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of reneging on a June 25 agreement to uphold national unity and refrain from actions that could destabilize the country.

The decision to push for direct polls by the federal government is partly blamed for the chaos since Jubaland and Puntland states are against the move. To them, the direct model can replace the indirect model, but the country cannot sustain it at the moment.

Critics say the government has given too much space for Al-Shabaab resurgence, given that it has remained preoccupied with political conflicts in Mogadishu. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud maintains that the constitutional changes are necessary for a progressive Somalia.

GAROWE ONLINE