Madobe’s fierce rival wounded in Kismayo

Kismayo – A prominent lawyer who has been advocating for change in Somalia’s Jubaland state was on Friday shot and fatally wounded in the seaport of Kismayo.

Local media reports that lawyer Ahmed Jama was shot multiple times by unknown gunmen before being rushed to hospital by well-wishers.

In August, Mr Jama openly campaigned against Sheikh Ahmed Madobe in controversial presidential polls at Jubbaland, often saying that change was inevitable.

“Gunmen shot multiple times and wounded a prominent lawyer Ahmed Jama Qalyar in Kismayo town late Friday, reports say. 

“Qalyar was the chair of the “Jubalanders for Change”, the opposition coalition that gave birth to politicians rivalling the region’s leader Ahmed Madobe,” RTN Somali TV reported.

Sheikh Madobe, a close ally of Kenya in Southern Somalia, emphatically won against his rivals even though federal President Mohammed Farmaajo disputed the win.

President Farmaajo has been accusing Kenya of meddling in Somalia’s internal affairs, claiming that KDF, which controls most of Jubaland, was responsible for rigging in Madobe.

So vicious have been the differences, that early this month, the federal government banned direct flights to Kismayo Airport in Jubbaland, a move targeting Ahmed Madobe and Kenya.

On Thursday, a furious Madobe warned President Farmaajo, accusing him of plotting to dislodge him from power. He also threatened retaliation.

“We took dead bodies and wounds on our shoulders as we entered Kismayo while he was having coffee at Starbucks at the time,” claimed Sheikh Madobe.

And the attempted assassination of lawyer Jama could further escalate differences between Farmaajo and Madobe in Africa’s most unstable nation.