Monday May 25, 2020
MOGADISHU (HOL) - AMISOM head Francisco Madeira has come under sharp criticism from Jubbaland government following his remarks to the UN Security Council last week which described the political pact between president Madobe and his political opponents an ‘Ogaden clan’ arrangement.
A statement to newsrooms Monday from Kismayu called on the Madeira to stick to his mandate and remain neutral in political processes in Somalia noting his remarks were tantamount to undermining the reconciliation process.
“Jubaland State warns that reducing the local effort of peace building to clannism is to undermine a genuine reconciliation process and promotes clannism which might lead to destruction and insecurity in the region,” Jubbaland said.
Noting that Madeira was part of the efforts to resolve the post elections challenges in Jubbaland, the statement read, terming the product of the process a ‘“Clan agreement” is both unacceptable and Unethical.”
While addressing the Security Council last week, UNSOM head James Swan and his AMISOM counterpart Madeira presented divergent points of view on the April 23 pact between Madobe and his political rivals Abdirizak Hidig, Abdinasir Serar and Dahir Ahmed Sheikh.
Swan described it as a political agreement between rivals while Madeira reduced it to a pact between clan rivals.
“In Jubbaland state, we take note of recent developments that saw Jubbaland leader and Ogaden opposition figures reach a settlement that led to a mutual recognition and cohabitation,” said Madeira.
In its response today, Jubbaland urged Madeira to confine himself to his mandate and remain neutral.
“We, therefore like to remind Ambassador Francisco Madeira of his responsibility to remain objective and most importantly remain neutral to avoid undermining the efforts put into such a reconciliation,” the statement read in part.
The Federal Government has maintained it will not recognize Madobe as the duly elected president of Jubbaland.