When the government of Somalia and the Jubaland administration of Ahmed Mohamed Islaan ‘Madobe' signed an interim agreement on 27 August the sighs of relief were audible...
Ahmed Madobe and his Ras Kamboni Brigade acting hand-in-hand with the Kenyan army had captured significant parts of Middle Juba and the port city of Kismayo from Al Haraka al Shabaab al Mujahideen (AC Vol 54 No 14 Aweys at bay Madobe on top & Madobe consolidates in Kismayo)...
The small concessions made by the Madobe side cannot mask the fact that this agreement gives a stamp of approval to the Jubaland process and the creation of a state in Lower Juba Middle Juba and Gedo led by Ahmed Madobe and Darod politicians including former Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke from the Osman Mahmud sub-group of the Majerteen (AC Vol 50 No 4 The Sheik Sharif show)...
In Kismayo the fighting centres on clan supremacy with the Kenyan-backed Ras Kamboni fighters under Ahmed Mohamed Islaan ‘Madobe' defending the position he claims as President of Jubaland against fighters from the Darod/Marehan clans within the Somali National Army (SNA)...
After another week of fighting for control of Kismayo port Ahmed Mohamed Islaan 'Madobe' and his Ras Kamboni militia have strengthened their grip over the region and its trade routes...
It was Ahmed Madobe's claims to have been elected President of Jubaland at a regional conference that sparked the latest fighting...
Against Hassan Sheikh’s orders Kenya allows Ahmed Mohamed Islaan ‘Madobe’ leader of its local ally the Ras Kamboni militia to profit from the export of stockpiles of charcoal from Kismayo port (AC Vol 53 No 20 Takeover at Kismayo & AC Vol 53 No 22 Not yet spring in Mogadishu)...
Hassan Sheikh attempted to prevent both key charcoal exports and any heavy-handed imposition of clan power by Ahmed Mohamed Islaan ‘Madobe’ leader of the Ras Kamboni militia allied to Kenya (AC Vol 53 No 23 Breaking ranks in Kismayo)...
Vol 53 No 23 |
- SOMALIA
- ANALYSIS
His Mohamed Zubeir sub-clan Rer Abdulle is stronger than the Rer Isaaq the sub-clan of Ahmed Mohamed Islaan ‘Madobe’ the Ras Kamboni leader who is currently challenging Mogadishu’s authority with Kenyan support...
However Ahmed Mohamed Islaan ‘Madobe’ (Ogaden/Mohamed Zubeir/Rer Isaaq) made it clear that he was in charge and the visitors were not welcome...
The thinking in Nairobi some believe is that the sales could benefit Ogadeni business people close to the Ras Kamboni militia leader Ahmed Mohamed Islaan ‘Madobe’ (Darod/Ogadeni)...
Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed Islaan ‘Madobe’ (AC Vol 52 No 22) leader of the Ogaden Ras Kamboni Brigade (RKB) Kenya’s main military ally in the area is expecting to run the city and perhaps the regional governorate...
Alternatively a figurehead from a minority clan may be given nominal control with Ahmed Madobe exercising the real power in the background according to one scenario...
Charcoal exporters (close to Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed Islaan ‘Madobe’ the Ras Kamboni leader and a key figure in Kismayo) want to restart their business but Kenya will try to ban it making Kenyan soldiers arbiters in the region’s bitter trade rivalries...