NAIROBI— Ahmed Madobe, the President of Jubaland State, has made a secret trip to Addis Ababa on Tuesday afternoon in what is widely seen as parts of attempts by him to halt the ongoing efforts by allied local forces and the Ethiopian military based in Gedo region to liberate Buaale, which is currently under the control of al-Shabab.
According to officials, Madobe perceives the liberation of Buaale without his state’s involvement as a threat to his longstanding presidency of Jubaland, that could weaken his political influence in the region.
Despite multiple attempts to restore the strategically important region under his admimstration, Gedo remains outside of his administration’s control and is seen as a rebellious region.
This comes as Madobe is also facing mounting pressure to resign, with allied opposition politicians based in Gedo – including some of his former close allies are seeking to unseat him and bring an end to his 13-year rule.
Meanwhile, his trip to Addis Ababa, which was kept secret until now, is seen as a desperate move by Madobe to save his presidency as he seeks the support of the Ethiopian government to halt the joint operation by the Gedo administration and the Ethiopian military to liberate Buaale from the grip of al-Shabab.
This move by Madobe has been met with widespread criticism, with many accusing him of placing his own interests above the interests of the people of Jubaland.
The opposition politicians in Gedo have called on Madobe to step down and allow for free and fair elections to take place in the state.
As the joint militaty campaign by the Gedo administration and the Ethiopian military continues to gain ground in their efforts to liberate Buaale, it remains to be seen how Madobe’s trip to Addis Ababa will affect the ongoing operation and the political landscape in Jubaland.
Facebook Comments