Jubaland accuses Villa Somalia of launching smear campaign against its leader 

MOGADISHU (Adduun) – Authorities in Jubaland have accused Somalia’s government of orchestrating a smear campaign against its leader who is attending the ongoing National Consultative Conference in Mogadishu, where discussions on elections have reached an impasse, Caasimada Online news website reported on Sunday. 

A senior regional official specifically alleged that the presidential palace is financing and instigating the smear campaign aimed at discrediting certain federal member state presidents attending the conference. 

“Mr. President, is there still hope that the envoys you are sending will help resolve the current differences, especially while your director of communications and your office are funding slander and defamation against the officials you invited to the conference?,” the director of Jubaland Public Relations Office Mohamed Hassan Hiis said. 

The Somali government has yet to respond to the allegations, which come during a tense standoff over regional elections. The federal government is advocating for a unified one-person, one-vote system across all federal member states in 2025, granting regional leaders several months of extension.  

However, Jubaland leader Ahmed Madobe has raised doubts about the feasibility of this option, asserting that any agreement on the matter must involve consultation with and the participation of Puntland and Khatumo states. He also cautioned against extending terms, expressing worries about the resulting political instability. His opposition is pushing the ongoing talks to the edge of an abysmal failure. 

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