
Saturday December 7, 2024

FILE PHOTO
Kismayo (HOL) — Jubbaland security forces fired anti-aircraft weapons at a plane carrying military cargo destined for federal government troops in the Raskamboni district of Lower Jubba.
According to a statement issued by Jubbaland authorities on Friday, the plane, departing from Mogadishu's Aden Adde Airport, was forced to divert toward the Kenyan border after narrowly avoiding Jubbaland's anti-aircraft fire. The statement alleged the aircraft was delivering equipment to federal forces recently deployed to the contested area.
"Jubbaland forces fired on the plane at 5:20 p.m. The aircraft fled from its intended landing site and landed near the Kenyan border, evading our fire," the statement read.
Jubbaland forces have reportedly established positions near the Raskamboni district, raising fears of an imminent clash between the regional security forces and federal troops. Jubbaland TV reported that the regional administration accused the federal government of sending troops to destabilize Jubbaland's security and vowed to resist the deployment.
The federal government, which has yet to comment on the incident, recently stationed over 1,000 troops in Lower Jubba to assume security responsibilities from the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) ahead of its January 2025 deadline.
The deployment has further strained relations between Mogadishu and Jubbaland's leader, Ahmed Madobe. Madobe has opposed the federal government's push for a "one person, one vote" election in 2026, opting instead for an indirect electoral model, which federal authorities have rejected.