Somalia : Jubaland President Reaches Deal With Political Rivals

By Maher Ahmed - Reporter

Somalia, 2 February 2026 Jubaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam ‘Madobe’ said on Sunday that he, Senator Ilyaas Badal Gaboose, and cleric Dahir Ahmed Abdullahi have agreed to burry their differences prioritizing peace, unity and Jubaland's public interest.

In a statement posted on social media, Madobe said he had reached an understanding with Gaboose and Abdullahi, adding that they would work jointly for the welfare of the people of Jubaland.

Senator Gaboose is a member of Somalia’s Upper House of Parliament, representing Jubaland. His political dispute with Madobe emerged during Madobe’s re-election, when a group of opposition supporters in Kismayo declared Gaboose as the “new president” of Jubaland, rejecting the results of Madobe’s election.

Since then, Gaboose has largely remained out of public view, amid reports that Jubaland authorities had detained him. The Jubaland administration said Gaboose voluntarily surrendered to Jubaland security forces on November 25, 2024.

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The announcement of dialogue between Gaboose and Madobe comes after the Banadir Regional Court recently annulled a prior arrest warrant issued against Madobe, according to court officials.

“The public interest, peace, and unity of the people of Jubaland are above all else,” Madobe said, adding that his administration is committed to resolving political differences through peaceful and inclusive means.

He said the Jubaland government is prepared to make “unlimited concessions” to achieve full unity and reconciliation and pledged that political disputes would be resolved in a way that safeguards stability and the future of Jubaland’s population.

Jubaland, one of Somalia’s federal member states, has faced repeated political tensions in recent years over leadership contests, governance, and its relationship with Somalia’s federal government in Mogadishu.

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Somalia : Jubaland President Reaches Deal With Political Rivals

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