Ahmed Madobe, President of Jubaland, a semi-autonomous region in Somalia, has issued a 15-day ultimatum for Somali federal forces to withdraw from Raskamboni, a strategically vital town near the Kenyan border. Speaking at a mosque in Kismayo, Madobe warned of “firm military action” should the troops remain, asserting that the federal government “will pay the price” for its continued presence in the area.
The standoff highlights ongoing tensions between Jubaland and Somalia’s Federal Government over regional control, resource management, and political autonomy. Madobe and his supporters view the deployment of federal troops to Raskamboni as a violation of Jubaland’s self-governance.
Raskamboni’s strategic importance stems from its role in countering Al-Shabaab militants and its proximity to Kismayo, the economic heart of Jubaland.
The Somali Federal Government has yet to respond to Madobe’s ultimatum.
