The Government of Kenya has reportedly successfully brokered a truce between feuding Jubaland leaders after a Nairobi meeting.
Garowe Online, a Somali-based publication, was the first to report on Sunday, April 5, that Jubaland President Ahmed Madobe had reached a deal with rivals Abdirashid Hidig and Abdinasir Serar after an intervention by the Kenyan government.
The two leaders had run against Madobe in the 2019 elections where Madobe emerged victorious, reportedly with Kenya backing his re-election.
"Jubaland President Ahmed Madobe reaches deal with his rivals, Abdirashid Hidig and Abdinasir Seeraar following Kenyan-brokered talks in Nairobi," Garowe Online reported.
Jubaland has been at the center of various diplomatic rows including with Kenya, Ethiopia and the Federal Republic of Somalia under President Mohammed Farmajo.
After Madobe's re-election in the hotly contested race, the relationship between the country and Somalia deteriorated as Farmajo cancelled direct flights from the region to Kismayu posing a challenge for businesses.
Kenya had reportedly supported Madobe's re-election because of the partnership the two countries enjoyed in the fight against the Al-Shabaab.
In November 2019, tensions were also high among Jubaland, Kenya and Ethiopia after Jubaland VP Mohamud Sayyid Adan sought shelter at a Kenyan hotel.
Adan was holed up inside a hotel in Mandera over wrangles after Ethiopian forces prevented him from visiting the border town of Bula-Hawa.
In the same month, Madobe and a delegation departed for Kenya after wrangles over Gedo region were threatening peace.
The team was received by cabinet ministers, military officials and other members of the Kenyan government but the details of their discussion were not made public.
