Friday August 8, 2025
Beled Hawo (HOL) – Jubbaland regional administration has
alleged that the recent escalation of conflict in Somalia’s Gedo region is
fueled by external geopolitical agendas, specifically tied to the Nile River
dispute between Ethiopia and Egypt.
In a statement issued by Jubbaland’s Ministry of Internal
Security, the administration accused Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of
deliberately dividing the Somali National Army in Gedo to weaken the federal
system.
“Jubbaland strongly believes that the new military offensive
in Gedo carries hidden external agendas, particularly related to the Nile River
dispute, dragging Somalia into a conflict that does not concern it,” the
statement read.
Political analysts have recently warned that the presence of
Egyptian troops—expected to join the African Union Mission in Somalia (ATMIS)
in the coming months—alongside existing Ethiopian forces could ignite a broader
conflict unless the Somali federal government establishes a clear national
strategy. Ethiopia and Egypt remain at odds over the Grand Ethiopian
Renaissance Dam (GERD), raising concerns that their rivalry could spill into
Somalia.
Jubbaland also alleged that President Hassan Sheikh deployed
former regional security chief Abdirashid Janan—now aligned with the federal
government—to Gedo to lead operations against Jubbaland forces.
Meanwhile, tensions remain high in the border town of Beled
Hawo following reports that Ethiopian military officers operating in Gedo
ordered Somali federal forces under Janan’s command to vacate the area. The
directive has sparked widespread protests and accusations of sovereignty
violations.
Hundreds of residents took to the streets on Thursday,
voicing support for Somali federal troops and rejecting foreign interference.
“We reject any foreign directive that undermines our right
to self-governance,” said one protester, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“The national army is here to protect us. This is our town, and no outsider
should dictate our security.”
These developments have further strained relations between
Mogadishu and the Kismayo-based Jubbaland administration, which has appealed to
the international community to urgently intervene and hold the Somali federal
government accountable for the escalating tensions.
Federal forces recently captured Beled Hawo from Jubbaland
troops following intense clashes. The federal government has accused Jubbaland
of instigating the violence and has since suspended federal services in parts
of the Gedo region.
Jubbaland has denied any wrongdoing and reiterated that the
people of Gedo should not be forced to endure a conflict rooted in political
manipulation. The administration warned against further actions aimed at
destabilizing the federal structure of governance in Somalia.