By Nuh Mohamed - Reporter
Somalia, 14 January 2026 The President of Somalia’s southern state of Jubaland, Ahmed Mohamed Islam ‘Madoobe’, on Wednesday rejected Somaliland’s bid for international recognition, insisting that the solution to the northern region's decades-long grievances lie within a unified Somalia.
Speaking to the Jubaland regional assembly in Kismayo, Madobe addressed the growing political fractures in the Horn of Africa nation, specifically the tensions surrounding the self-declared state of Somaliland and its recent diplomatic manoeuvre.
"Somaliland, the place you are seeking [recognition or solutions] from does not exist outside of us," Madobe told lawmakers. "Your needs, what you require, and your negotiations lie within the Somali people. It depends on Somalis."
While dismissing Somaliland’s external search for recognition, the Jubaland leader took a sharp aim at the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) in Mogadishu, accusing it of fuelling the current instability.
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"The central government is the cause of much of the distance and potential collapse we see today," Madobe said. He accused a "small group or clique" within the administration of neglecting both domestic and foreign political solutions in favour of narrow interests.
"When the government abandons the rule of law and the protection of the [federal] system, every individual and region starts looking elsewhere for help, and confidence is lost," he added.
Madobe’s remarks come at a time of heightened friction between some federal member states and President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration. Jubaland, along with the northeastern state of Puntland, has frequently clashed with Mogadishu over constitutional amendments, the electoral process, and the distribution of resources.
