MOGADISHU, (HAN) — The governments of Kenya, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have reportedly pressured Ahmed Islam Madobe, President of Jubaland State, to reconcile with the Federal Government of Somalia after years of political tensions.
The dispute began when Madobe organized a self-declared election that Mogadishu refused to recognize. Since taking office in 2012, he has become a polarizing figure in Somali politics, described by analysts as a “man of many faces” and a complex political operator.
Amid financial strain, sanctions, and political pressure in Kismayo, Madobe has been compelled to reengage with the federal government. Earlier threats by Mogadishu to form an alternative Jubaland administration in Gedo accelerated reconciliation efforts.
The agreement between Madobe and Mogadishu is also seen as a setback for opposition leader Said Abdullahi Deni, President of Puntland, who has positioned himself as a rival to both Madobe and President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
