Sunday , June 14, 2026 (Baidoa Online) -The Jubaland regional administration has completed the training of newly recruited security forces in a ceremony that highlighted its growing military capacity.
The closing ceremony was attended by Jubaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Ahmed Madobe), who oversaw the formal graduation of the trainees and praised their readiness to serve in the region’s security operations.
During the event, Jubaland authorities showcased various military assets, including heavy equipment, underscoring what officials described as strengthened operational preparedness and improved defense capabilities.
The regional government stated that the newly trained forces will be deployed to support ongoing security operations aimed at stabilizing the region and countering security threats.
Political tensions with the Federal Government
The development comes amid ongoing political tensions between the Jubaland administration and Somalia’s Federal Government. The dispute has largely centered on disagreements over constitutional reforms, electoral frameworks, and the division of authority between Mogadishu and federal member states. Jubaland has repeatedly rejected unilateral constitutional and electoral decisions taken by the federal government, arguing that they undermine Somalia’s federal system and lack broad-based consensus among member states.
Tensions escalated further during the disputed Jubaland presidential election process, which the federal government did not recognize, deepening institutional divisions and fueling parallel claims of legitimacy between the two sides.
Ras Kamboni clashes between federal and Jubaland forces
Relations between the two sides have also been shaped by past armed confrontations, most notably the clashes in Ras Kamboni in December 2024. During that period, fighting erupted between Somali federal government forces and Jubaland regional troops in the strategically important Lower Jubba area near the Kenyan border.
Reports indicated that the confrontation involved deployments, drone strikes, and ground engagements as federal forces moved into the area, which Jubaland viewed as an encroachment on its territory. The clashes lasted several hours before easing, with both sides accusing each other of initiating the violence.
The Ras Kamboni incident underscored the fragility of relations between Mogadishu and Jubaland, highlighting how political disputes over elections and authority can quickly escalate into armed confrontations in southern Somalia.
