Sunday December 15, 2024
Kismayo (HOL) — Jubbaland regional administration transported Somali National Army (SNA) soldiers to Mogadishu on Sunday, marking the second group of captives sent back following last week's clashes in Raskamboni town, Lower Jubba region.
The soldiers, flown to Mogadishu without their weapons, were captured during intense fighting between Jubbaland forces and federal troops stationed in the border town.
Jubbaland officials have accused the federal government of deploying inexperienced soldiers to destabilize the regional administration. The federal government has yet to issue a statement regarding the return of its troops or their capture during the Raskamboni clashes.
Jubbaland forces seized control of Raskamboni after fierce clashes, claiming that hundreds of soldiers from the elite Gorgor unit surrendered while others reportedly fled into Kenya.
The conflict underscores the ongoing tensions between Jubbaland and the Federal Government, which have been strained since President Ahmed Madobe's re-election in November 2024. Mogadishu has refused to recognize Madobe's leadership, accusing Jubbaland of obstructing national unity and resisting efforts to transition Somalia to a universal suffrage electoral system.