Saturday November 23, 2024
Kismayo (HOL) — At least one security officer was killed and two others injured on Saturday in a gunfight between Jubbaland police and security guards for presidential candidate Senator Ilyas Baddel Gabose in Kismayo.
The clash erupted outside the AGAN Hotel in Kismayo, where opposition politicians were meeting. Jubbaland police reportedly blocked Senator Gabose's vehicle from entering, triggering an exchange of gunfire.
Jubbaland Police Spokesperson Shukri Farah Duale confirmed that the deceased was part of Gabose's security team, while the injured were police officers. Duale alleged that Gabose's guards initiated the violence by firing at a police checkpoint.
"The candidates' actions have recently endangered security in Kismayo. We urge the public to remain calm and cooperate with the forces to maintain stability," Duale said.
Federal Minister of Security Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail Fartaag condemned the incident, accusing Jubbaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Ahmed Madobe) of orchestrating the violence.
"I condemn the terrorist act carried out by Ahmed Madobe at the AGAN Hotel, which endangered civilians and politicians. This attack shows his intention to incite civil war in Jubbaland," Fartaag said, urging armed forces in Kismayo to avoid actions that could escalate the conflict.
Somali Prime Minister Hamse Abdi Barre recently declared Madobe ineligible for re-election, citing constitutional term limits. Barre labeled the ongoing electoral process illegitimate, accusing Madobe of prioritizing personal ambitions over national unity.
Relations between Jubbaland and the federal government have soured further following Madobe's withdrawal from a National Consultative Council (NCC) meeting in Mogadishu. Madobe demanded broader regional inclusion in electoral discussions, aligning with Puntland's boycott of the NCC.