Somalia: Federal Troop Deployment Sparks Fears of Renewed Conflict in Gedo Region

GARBAHAREY, Somalia — The Somali federal government has dispatched a large number of security forces to the Gedo region, amid growing military tensions with the Jubaland administration following violent confrontations earlier this week in the border town of Balad Hawo.

Sources on the ground confirmed that a plane carrying officers from the Haram’ad police unit—trained in Turkey—landed in Garbaharey, the regional capital, on Thursday evening. The deployment is seen as part of a broader federal strategy to reinforce its presence in Gedo, a contested region in southwestern Somalia.

The latest troop movement comes just days after clashes broke out in Balad Hawo near the Kenya border, where fighters aligned with Jubaland reportedly seized control of the town center. Somali army units and agents from the National Intelligence Service (NISA) are reportedly stationed at a base outside the town. The fighting erupted shortly after Abdirashid Janan, recently named as the regional head of NISA, arrived from Mogadishu.

Tensions remain high as both sides continue to mobilize reinforcements. Residents report a heavy security presence and fear the standoff could lead to further violence. Balad Hawo is now under Jubaland control after the regional forces kicked Abdirashid Janan, the new spy head in Gedo of the town.

At the heart of the dispute is a long-running power struggle between the federal government and Jubaland over control of Gedo. Friction intensified following federal plans to launch a nationwide voter registration drive in preparation for a “one person, one vote” election — a key agenda of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration.

However, leaders of Jubaland, Puntland, and opposition groups have voiced strong opposition to the process, pointing to insecurity, weak local governance structures, and limited reach of federal authority outside the capital.

The current standoff follows a series of failed attempts by the federal government to exert greater influence over Jubaland territory. In late 2024, Jubaland accused Mogadishu of backing an armed campaign in Ras Kamboni aimed at ousting its regional president, Ahmed Madobe — an effort that ultimately collapsed.

As of Friday, no official updates had been released by either side regarding the situation in Balad Hawo or the troop deployments to Gedo.

GAROWE ONLINE