Clashes between Somali government forces and forces affiliated with the Jubaland administration in Balad Hawa

Clashes between Somali government forces and forces affiliated with the Jubaland administration in Balad Hawa

 Reports today from the border town of Balad Hawa in Gedo region of Jubaland state indicate clashes between Somali government forces and other forces affiliated with the Jubaland administration.

Reports added that clashes between the two sides erupted after Abdirashid Janan, the newly appointed director of the National Intelligence and Security Agency in Jubaland by the Somali federal government, arrived in the city aboard a Somali army helicopter.

Today's incident in Baladhawa highlights the continuing risk of political rivalries escalating into violent conflict. Neither the federal government nor the Jubaland administration has yet issued an official statement on the clashes.

This comes as Gedo region is witnessing a conflict between the Somali government and the Jubaland administration led by Ahmed Mohamed Islam "Madobe," who is not recognized by the Mogadishu government as the legitimate president of Jubaland.