Somali federal forces retreat from Jubaland positions after clashes

Somali troops have retreated from positions in the semi-autonomous southern Jubaland region following clashes with regional forces, Mogadishu said Thursday. Conflict-weary Somalia is a federation of five semi-autonomous member states -- Puntland, Jubaland, Galmudug, Hirshabelle and South West -- and a central government in the capital.

Tensions have been rising between the central authority and Jubaland, with regional forces under leader Ahmed Madobe clashing in and around the town of Ras Kamboni for several hours on Wednesday, according to government and military officials.

"The Somali federal government as it is obliged to protect the blood of the Somali people, especially the members of the national armed forces, ordered the army to retreat from locations in the lower Juba," the government said in a statement, without giving more details. The statement blamed Madobe's forces for the confrontation.

"The Somali national armed forces had no instructions to engage armed confrontation with anyone except Kharijites," it said, using the term officials adopt to describe the Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab jihadist group. It said the forces, which had been deployed to replace departing African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) troops, remained "committed to fulfil their national obligations to defend the nation, people and the religion".

Ras Kamboni was previously held by Jubaland forces, with federal troops moving into the southern town on a peninsula some 290 kilometres (180 miles) from Kismayo city earlier this year without bloodshed. On Thursday, Jubaland officials claimed they had regained control of the settlement.

"Jubaland forces finally took control of the Ras Kamboni town late in the afternoon," local deputy security minister Adan Ahmed told reporters. He characterised the fighting as "unlawful", placing the blame on the federal government and expressing disappointment that the Somali national forces had been involved for "political purpose".

On Wednesday, Adan also claimed that a number of federal troops had surrendered. AFP has been unable to verify that information. Communications in the region remain difficult. The clash is a further escalation in tensions in the region, following the re-election of Madobe earlier this year.

A former warlord, Madobe's election was labelled "unlawful" by Mogadishu, which had hoped to align Jubaland's polls with plans to introduce nationwide universal suffrage elections next year. The clashes in Jubaland will also worry neighbouring Kenya and Ethiopia, who see Jubaland as a buffer against Al-Shabaab militants who have staged several bloody attacks in their countries.