Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed Islaam (Somali: Sheekh Axmed Maxamed Islaam, Arabic: شيخ أحمد محمد إسلام) better known as Ahmed Madobe, is a Somali politician and a former militant who is the current president of the Jubaland State of Somalia and the chairman of the Raskamboni Movement.
Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed Islaam | |
|---|---|
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| 1st President of Jubaland | |
| Assumed office 1 October 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Mohamed Abdi Mohamed as the President of Azania |
| 1st Chairman of the Raskamboni Movement | |
| Assumed office 7 October 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Office Established |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1951 (age 72–73) Kebri Dahar, Ogaden |
Background
editIslamic Courts Union
editAs a member of Islamic Courts Union (ICU) Madobe served as the governor of Jubaland in 2006. When the ICU withdrew deep into southern Somalia during the Ethiopian invasion, he retreated towards the Kenyan border where he was wounded, and later received medical treatment at an Ethiopian hospital. He was placed in prison where remained for the remainder of the Ethiopian military occupation.[1] After the Ethiopian withdrawal from Somalia in January 2009, Madobe was released and he joined the newly formed government of Sharif Sheikh Ahmed. On 4 April 2009, he announced his resignation from the parliament, claiming that he had only joined to get out of prison in Ethiopia and further warned Sharif's government to be "careful of foreign conspiracies."[1]
Hizbul Islam
editMadobe later joined Hizbul Islam and served as the local commander for Kismayo. In 2009, two Hizbul Islam factions (Raskamboni Movement and Muskar Anole) and Al-Shabaab held Kismayo jointly. After Al-Shabaab named its own governing council, excluding the other factions, it was denounced by Hizbul Islam.[2] In October 2009, Hizbul Islam forces led by Madobe fought against Al-Shabaab over the city of Kismayo.[3] When conflict later broke out between Hizbul Islam and Al-Shabaab, Madobe was blamed by Shabaab for the outbreak of violence.[4]
Jubaland presidency
editMadobe who was the leader of the Raskamboni Movement was elected as the interim head of the Jubaland Administration on the 1st of October 2012 after his forces with the support of the Kenya Defence Forces captured the strategic port city of Kismayo from Al-Shabaab, Eight months later on the 15th of May 2013 he was elected as the interim president of Jubaland in a Transition period of two years.[5][6]
Somali Federal Government contention over election
editThe government of Jubaland, the Independent Election Committee of Jubaland and the Jubaland electorate, the federal constitution and the state constitution recognized Madobe as the legitimate president of Jubaland. The Somali Federal Government, in violation of both federal and state constitutions, recognised Madobe only as interim president.[6][citation needed]
National Reconciliation Agreement
editOn 28 August 2013, Madobe signed a national reconciliation agreement in Addis Ababa with the Somali federal government.[7] Endorsed by the federal State Minister for the Presidency Farah Abdulkadir on behalf of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the pact was brokered by the Foreign Ministry of Ethiopia and came after protracted bilateral talks.
Under the terms of the agreement, for a two-year period Jubaland would be administered by a Juba Interim Administration and led by the region's incumbent president, Madobe. The regional president would serve as the chairperson of a new Executive Council, to which he would appoint three deputies. Management of Kismayo's seaport and airport would also be transferred to the Federal Government after a period of six months, and revenues and resources generated from these infrastructures would be earmarked for Jubaland's service delivery and security sectors as well as local institutional development.
Additionally, the agreement included the integration of Jubaland's military forces under the central command of the Somali National Army (SNA), and stipulated that the Juba Interim Administration would command the regional police.[7][8] UN Special Envoy to Somalia Nicholas Kay hailed the pact as "a breakthrough that unlocks the door for a better future for Somalia,"[9] with AUC, UN, EU and IGAD representatives also present at the signing.[8]
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2015 election
editOn 15 August 2015, Madobe was re-elected by the Jubaland parliament with 68 votes as President of Jubaland State.[citation needed]
Madobe controversially won the elections of 2019 with no significant opponent.[10] The opposition said Ahmed was undemocratic during his previous term commission and worked to skew results in his favour.[11]
In August 2019 Madobe was sworn into office for four years.[6][12] He won more than two-thirds of the votes cast by the semi-autonomous region's lawmakers in the port city of Kismayu.[13]
The United Nations had called on all stakeholders to hold a “single electoral process that is credible, inclusive, fair and peaceful",[13] but nevertheless the Federal Government of Somali boycotted the election backing a loyalist in a parallel election.[12]
Tensions between FGS and Jubaland State escalated in March, when heavy fighting broke out near the Kenyan border between Somali troops and Jubaland forces. Kenya also accused FGS of violating its territorial integrity.[14]
The FGS faced criticism from observers for engaging in political feuds with federal states to gain control in the upcoming election, rather than focusing on the fight against Islamist group Al-Shabaab.[14] In June 2020 the FGS recognised Madobe, but only as interim president of Jubaland State with a two-year mandate, contrary to the Jubaland State constitution which provides for a four-year mandate.[15]
References
edit- ^ a b "Islamist MP Resigns After 'Cheating' Ethiopia Jail". Garowe Online. 4 April 2009. Archived from the original on 27 May 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
- ^ "Tension Mounting in Kismayo as Somali Islamists Jostle for Power". Voice of America. 7 November 2009. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
- ^ "Rival Islamist Groups May Fight Again". Hiiraan Online. 3 October 2009. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
- ^ "Islamist ally turns on Somalia's al-Shabab". Voice of America. 2 December 2009. Archived from the original on 4 September 2024. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
- ^ "Jubaland in Jeopardy: The Uneasy Path to State-Building in Somalia". International Crises Group. 21 May 2013. Archived from the original on 11 February 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
- ^ a b c "Former Islamist warlord elected president of Somali region". Reuters. 15 May 2013. Archived from the original on 8 June 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
- ^ a b "Somalia: Jubaland gains recognition after intense bilateral talks in Ethiopia". Garowe Online. 28 August 2013. Archived from the original on 12 October 2013. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
- ^ a b Wendoson, Abera. "Somalia gives recognition to Jubaland interim administration". Ethiopian Herald. Archived from the original on 11 September 2013. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
- ^ Sisay, Andualem (29 August 2013). "Somali government and Jubaland strike a peace deal". Africa Review. Archived from the original on 10 September 2017. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
- ^ "Somalia's controversial Jubbaland polls: Incumbent wins re-election". 23 August 2019. Archived from the original on 14 September 2019.
- ^ "Somalia's Jubaland region re-elects Ahmed Mohamed as president". Al Jazeera. 22 August 2019. Archived from the original on 20 April 2024. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
- ^ a b "Somalia Regional Lawmakers Re-elect Incumbent as Leader Amid Tensions". Voice of America. 22 August 2019.
- ^ a b "Somalia's Jubaland region re-elects Ahmed Mohamed as president". Al Jazeera. 22 August 2019. Archived from the original on 19 September 2021. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
- ^ a b "Somalia recognizes contested leader in semi-autonomous border state". France24. 14 June 2020. Archived from the original on 18 March 2021. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ "Jubaland rejects Somalia's recognition of its leader Madobe". Middle East Online. 15 June 2020.