Friday August 1, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali federal government has reportedly taken full control of Balad Hawo district in the Gedo region following several days of intense clashes with forces loyal to the Jubbaland regional administration.
Federal troops are now firmly positioned in key strategic locations across the district, including the district headquarters, police station, and immigration center—installations that had previously been under the control of Jubbaland forces.
According to local sources, Jubbaland-aligned troops retreated toward the nearby Kenyan border without offering further resistance. Telecommunications and electricity services—both disrupted during the fighting—were restored Thursday morning, and normalcy is gradually returning to several neighborhoods, where shops have reopened and daily life has resumed.
The takeover marks a significant escalation in the long-standing dispute between Somalia’s federal government and the Jubbaland administration over control of Gedo, a strategically important region bordering both Kenya and Ethiopia. Balad Hawo has been a frequent flashpoint in this power struggle, often mirroring wider tensions in Somalia’s fragile federal structure.
At its weekly session in Mogadishu on Thursday, the Somali Cabinet praised the military operation, hailing it as a “brave effort” to repel destabilizing elements. The Council of Ministers also commended residents of Balad Hawo for their cooperation with security forces, describing it as a sign of growing public confidence in national institutions.
“The people of Balad Hawo demonstrated strong civic responsibility by working closely with our security agencies,” the Cabinet said in a statement. “Their support was essential in restoring order.”
The federal government reiterated its commitment to maintaining security and advancing public services in newly secured areas, while emphasizing that any actors seeking to undermine peace would be treated as threats to national unity.