MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – The federal government of Somalia has imposed a ban on flights from Nairobi to Kismayo, the interim capital of Jubaland, as tensions with the region’s leader, re-elected for a controversial third term last week, have reached a breaking point, pushing the region to the brink of a catastrophic all-out conflict, Caasimada Online news website reported on Thursday.
Authorities have instructed airlines not to permit landings in Kismayo on flights from Nairobi, though they have refrained from providing any rationale for the ban, widely perceived as a move to further isolate Jubaland President Ahmed Madobe, whose escalating tensions with Mogadishu have reached their most critical point since President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s election in 2022.
The ban coincides with the imminent inauguration of Jubaland President Ahmed Madobe, who was re-elected for a third term late last month in a vote condemned by the Somali government as unconstitutional and treasonous, with authorities vowing never to recognize the outcome.
Flights from Mogadishu to Kismayo are exempt from the ban, which follows a recent move by Somali federal authorities to ground all flights to Dolow, a town in Gedo region under the control of the Jubaland administration.
Jubaland authorities have recently issued a warning to airlines against landing in Raskamboni, a town in the Lower Juba region, where the federal government has been airlifting troops and fortifying military positions in preparation for a potential clash with regional forces and the ouster of President Ahmed Madobe, citing imminent security threats and the risk of an outbreak of violence at any moment.
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