ONLF Warns of Escalating Tensions in Jubaland Amid Military Build-Up

Jigjiga (Idil News) – The Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) has expressed deep alarm over rising tensions in Jubaland-Somalia tensions.   In a statement released Wednesday,   the ONLF condemned the deployment of Somali Federal Government forces and reinforcements by the Jubaland administration,   warning that the situation could spiral into armed conflict if not urgently addressed.

The ONLF,  a  political organization advocating for the rights of ethnic Somali populations in Ethiopia’s Somali region, urged all stakeholders to exercise restraint and prioritize peaceful dialogue. “The current crisis not only endangers the stability of Jubaland but also creates opportunities for destabilizing forces to exploit the fragile situation,” the organization stated.

The warning follows the re-election of Jubaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam, also known as Ahmed Madobe, on Monday, November 25, for the third term. His re-election has deepened existing tensions between the Jubaland administration and the Somali Federal Government, which dispatched troops to Kamboni in the Badhadhe District as a show of force.

Somalia constitutional crisis

The situation is part of a broader constitutional crisis gripping Somalia since April 30, when Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud amended the national constitution. The amendments, strongly opposed by Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni, prompted Puntland to sever ties with the federal government and declare itself an independent state. Jubaland has since followed suit, cutting institutional links with Mogadishu.  

The deployment of federal troops to Jubaland has heightened fears of a clash between the Somali National Army and Jubaland regional forces. Analysts warn that an escalation in violence could undermine security in southern Somalia and derail ongoing efforts to stabilize the region, which has long struggled with Al-Shabaab insurgency and inter-clan rivalries.  

The ONLF called on Somali leaders and international mediators to intervene and prevent further deterioration, urging a return to constitutional negotiations and peaceful resolution mechanisms.

Idil News, ‘Jigjiga bureau‘