UCID chairman meets with controversial Jubbaland leader

Nairobi (Somaliland.com) – Chairman of Somaliland Justice and Welfare Party (UCID), Faisal Ali Warabe, has met with Jubaland State president Ahmed Mohamed Islam Madoobe in Nairobi, on Wednesday.

This is the first time a high-level Somaliland official meets with one of the presidents in Somalia’s Federal Member States. 

Apart from photos shared in Social Media, no official statements have yet to be released from both UCID and Jubbaland about the issues the leaders have discussed.

In Somaliland, only the Government is bestowed to lead any meetings with its counterpart in Mogadishu for official talks between Somaliland and Somalia. Due to that, several times Government has detained Somaliland citizens who have traveled to Mogadishu and met Somali federal officials.

UCID leader Faisal Ali Waraabe has sided with Ahmed Madobe during the political row between Jubaland State and Somalia’s Federal Government over the election of Ahmed Madobe to the presidency for his second term.

The former Somaliland Director-General Mr. Mohamed Adan Elmi Ilka’ase of Employment and Social Affairs Ministry was in the meeting between the two leaders. Mr. Ilka’ase is remembered when he participated in the inauguration of Ahmed Madobe.

The Jubbaland State President Ahmed Madoobe is in Kenya for his first trip outside Kismaayo after his controversial reelection in office in September this year. President of the Federal government of Somalia, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, rejected Madobe’s victory in September 2019, accusing Kenya of forcefully imposing him on the people of Jubaland. Then the federal government termed his re-election as ‘illegitimate’.

Mr Faisal Ali Warabe also met with lawmakers in the Somali Federal Parliament, including Ex-Deputy Prime Minister Mohamed Omar Arte who is originally from Somaliland. Somaliland government has not yet commented on the meeting and whether the UCID chairman has crossed the line and not.

Meanwhile, Ahmed Madobe also met the chair of the Ogaden National Liberation Front in Nairobi Kenya. The meeting with high-level officials from the Ogaden National Liberation Front led by its new party Chairman, Abdirahman Mahdi Madey, and high-level officials from Jubaland, led by president Ahmed Madobe discussed on the political situation in the horn of Africa region.

The two sides also discussed ways to promote peace and understanding among all political groups.   ONLF emphasized the importance of mutual understanding among key stakeholders and respect for all.