Tuesday 22,July 2025 {HMC} Heavy fighting erupted Tuesday in the southern border town of Beled Hawo after the Somali federal government deployed Abdirashid Janan, a controversial former Jubbaland security minister, as the new regional intelligence chief, triggering a fierce response from Jubbaland forces who later claimed full control of the town.
The clashes began shortly after Janan arrived from Mogadishu aboard a Somali military helicopter, escorted by senior officers and additional troops. His deployment reignited long-standing tensions between federal and Jubbaland-aligned forces, both of which claim authority over Gedo, a strategically vital region bordering Kenya and Ethiopia.
At least five soldiers were reportedly killed, and dozens more were wounded, including civilians caught in the crossfire, according to initial casualty estimates. The full toll remains unconfirmed due to limited access to the area.
Residents described heavy gunfire near the regional administration compound and other key sites in Beled Hawo, forcing civilians to shelter indoors as sporadic shots rang out for much of the day. By Tuesday evening, the town was reported calm but tense, with fears that fighting could resume.
In a statement released by Jubbaland’s state-run media, the administration claimed its forces had regained full control of the district headquarters and surrounding areas. The statement said several members of the federal-aligned militia had been captured and that Janan, who arrived earlier that morning, had fled and was being pursued.
“Jubbaland forces are now in full control of Beled Hawo,” the statement read. “Security disruptions have been contained, and operations are ongoing to apprehend remaining hostile elements.”
In a statement issued Tuesday, Somalia’s Ministry of Internal Security described the assault as “a deliberate attempt to destabilize constitutional order and national sovereignty,” blaming militias loyal to Jubbaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam Madobe. The government warned that those responsible would face legal consequences, adding that the use of force to alter the political status of federal territory would not be tolerated.
In a counterstatement, Jubbaland officials accused President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and his forces of launching “an unjustified attack on the peace-loving residents of Beled-Hawo.” They said that Jubbaland forces stationed in the area “defended against militias acting under the direct command of Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and his group.”
Mogadishu has not publicly commented on the status of Janan, whose reported appointment as both the Gedo regional director of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) and head of stabilization operations was seen as a bold move by Villa Somalia to consolidate federal authority in the region.
Puntland authorities also weighed in, condemning what they called a federal military incursion into territory under Jubbaland’s administration. State Minister for Presidential Affairs Abdifatah Abdi Nur Mohamed accused the federal government of jeopardizing national unity and undermining efforts against Al-Shabaab by escalating intergovernmental conflicts.
“These kinds of actions weaken national cohesion and threaten the shared efforts to secure Somalia,” Abdifatah said, warning that such deployments could distract from the broader security threats posed by extremist groups.
Beled Hawo has long been a flashpoint in the power struggle between the federal government and Jubbaland, particularly following disputed elections that saw Ahmed Mohamed Islam, known as Ahmed Madobe, re-elected as Jubbaland president amid controversy over Gedo’s parliamentary representation. The federal government has been accused of attempting to establish an alternative administration in Gedo, a move Jubbaland strongly opposes.
Though Ethiopian troops aligned with Jubbaland currently control many of Gedo’s airstrips, the federal government appears intent on reversing that dynamic. Sources close to the federal side told HOL that the latest deployment is part of a broader effort to assert control ahead of planned one-person, one-vote elections in six districts of Gedo.
Hiiraan Online will continue to monitor developments in Gedo.
