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Somalia requests Interpol Red Notice for Jubaland leader Ahmed Madobe
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia's federal government has reportedly issued an Interpol Red Notice request for the arrest of Jubaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam, known as "Madobe," escalating a political standoff with the Federal Member State. The Banadir Regional Court in Mogadishu, which...
The Somali federal government has requested an Interpol Red Notice for Madobe, accusing him of treason and collusion with foreign entities, escalating tensions between Mogadishu and the Jubaland administration.
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia's federal government has reportedly issued an Interpol Red Notice request for the arrest of Jubaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam, known as "Madobe," escalating a political standoff with the Federal Member State. The Banadir Regional Court in Mogadishu, which authorized the request on Wednesday, accuses Madobe of treason, collusion with foreign governments, and undermining Somalia's unity.
The charges mark the latest salvo in a bitter conflict between the federal government and Jubaland's semi-autonomous administration, a rift which began with Madobe's withdrawal from the government consultations last month now threatens to derail Somalia's fragile state-building efforts.
A Red Notice serves as a request to international law enforcement to locate and provisionally arrest a wanted individual pending extradition. It is not an international arrest warrant and depends on member states' cooperation. Somalia's request for Interpol's assistance signals its intent to seek international backing in holding Madobe accountable.
The issuance of an Interpol Red Notice against Ahmed Madobe carries consequential implications for his political career and personal mobility. While the notice itself is not an international arrest warrant, it can severely restrict Madobe’s ability to travel freely.
"By submitting a Red Notice request, Somalia's federal government has effectively labelled Ahmed Madobe an international criminal, requiring his arrest in any cooperating Interpol member state," said Aman Obsiye, a prosecutor based in Minnesota.
The notice limits his capacity to engage in diplomatic or political activities outside Jubaland, effectively isolating him from international allies or regional forums that could bolster his position against Mogadishu. The stigma of the Red Notice also risks damaging his credibility on the global stage, complicating efforts to present himself as a legitimate and stabilizing leader in a region plagued by conflict and Al-Shabaab insurgency.
Somalia's federal government alleges that Madobe conspired with foreign entities to destabilize Somalia and shared classified information in violation of national security laws. Somali officials argue that his actions jeopardize the federal government's efforts to implement a "one person, one vote" electoral system, which Jubaland has staunchly resisted.
As of Thursday morning, neither Ahmed Madobe nor his administration has publicly commented on the Interpol Red Notice or the arrest warrant issued against him.
Sources within Jubaland's administration have dismissed the charges as politically motivated, accusing the federal government of using judicial processes to weaken regional autonomy.
In a retaliatory move, Jubaland's First Instance Court issued an arrest warrant for Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, accusing him of treason and inciting rebellion. The tit-for-tat legal actions highlight the deepening mistrust between Mogadishu and Kismayo, Jubaland's capital.
Legal experts have described these parallel warrants as unprecedented in Somalia's political history.
Ahmed Madobe has been a central figure in Somali politics since 2012, when he assumed leadership of Jubaland after helping to liberate Kismayo from Al-Shabaab militants. While credited with stabilizing parts of the region, Al-Shabaab still controls large swaths of territory in Lower and Middle Juba. Allegations of nepotism and clan favouritism have also marred his tenure.
Madobe's contentious re-election earlier this week—his third term—has fueled federal claims that Jubaland is obstructing Somalia's constitutional reforms.
The conflict has spilled into military deployments. Federal forces, including elite Haram'ad and Gorgor units trained by Turkey, have mobilized to strategic locations in Jubaland, notably Ras Kamboni near the Kenyan border. Jubaland has responded by reinforcing its own troops, raising fears of a broader confrontation. In a surprising move, over 80 soldiers from Jubaland’s regional forces have joined the federal military operation in Ras Kamboni, a key area vacated by the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).
The deployment coincides with the withdrawal of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), creating a security vacuum in regions previously held by Kenyan troops. Analysts warn that Al-Shabaab militants could exploit the disunity to reclaim territory.
