Sunday 27,July .2025 {HMC} The Himilo Qaran political party, led by former Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, has strongly condemned the recent clashes between the federal government and Jubbaland state forces in the Beled Hawo district of the Gedo region.
In a statement released on Saturday, the party accused the federal government of initiating the attacks. It described the offensive as “unacceptable” and regretted that the central government was sending troops by air into a regional state, warning that “the enemies of the Somali nation are approaching Mogadishu.”
“It is shocking that Somali funds, weapons, and the military are being used for personal gain, diverting them from their intended purpose of fighting terrorist groups,” the party’s statement said.
The party also warned against using the national army for political purposes, saying it could lead to national discord, loss of trust, and create opportunities for groups that oppose statehood and peace in Somalia.
“Our country does not need civil war and social displacement. It is irresponsible to destroy the national army at a time when there is a great need for cooperation and unity in the face of terrorism,” the statement added.
The party called on the central government to pursue peaceful dialogue to resolve any disputes between the regional states, especially Jubbaland. It emphasized that no solution could be reached “at gunpoint and with force” against those who hold differing views from the central government.
“The Somali people need reconciliation, not the divisions of the past. The solution is not force and political coercion,” the party said.
Meanwhile, Somalia’s Ministry of Internal Security has accused Jubbaland regional leader Ahmed Mohamed Islam, widely known as Ahmed Madobe, of orchestrating a deadly attack against federal forces in the contested town of Beled Hawo.
In a statement, the ministry condemned what it called a “criminal act” committed by forces loyal to Ahmed Madobe, alleging they launched a coordinated assault on federal army camps and public service centers.
The violence broke out after the federal government deployed Abdirashid Janan—a controversial former Jubbaland security minister—as the new regional intelligence chief for Gedo. Janan arrived in Beled Hawo on Tuesday morning aboard a military helicopter from Mogadishu, accompanied by senior Somali army officers and reinforcements.
His appointment immediately triggered a backlash from Jubbaland-aligned forces, who oppose federal control over the Gedo region, a strategically important area bordering Kenya and Ethiopia.
Heavy fighting erupted shortly after Janan’s arrival, with Jubbaland forces claiming they had recaptured the district headquarters and surrounding areas. According to a statement from Jubbaland’s state-run media, several pro-federal fighters were captured during the clashes, and Janan had fled the town and was being pursued.
