(23-04-23) MOGADISHU – President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud convened a meeting with Galja’el clan elders, including the supreme traditional elder Ugas Abdirahman Ugas Abdullahi Ugas Muhumad, at Villa Somalia to address the ongoing threat posed by Al-Shabaab in Hiiraan and Juba regions.
During the closed-door meeting, the parties discussed a range of issues, such as the clan’s involvement in combating Al-Shabaab and mobilizing local militias within their constituencies. The elders pledged their support for the war against Al-Shabaab and agreed to initiate mobilization efforts in the areas they inhabit, particularly around the Kismayo outposts.
The participants also addressed the clan’s concerns over governmental power allocation and distribution, as well as an appeal to expel Al-Shabaab from areas within the Hiiraan region, where the clan also resides.
This meeting marks the first dialogue between President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Jubaland clan elders. The event follows unverified reports that Jubaland leader Ahmed Madobe declined a proposal to deploy a battalion of Eritrea-trained soldiers in the Juba regions to intensify the fight against Al-Shabaab. Madobe’s alleged refusal has led to speculation that he may be reluctant to extend his authority beyond Kismayo due to concerns about losing control if additional territory in the Juba region is liberated from Al-Shabaab.
