Farmaajo embraces Jubbaland fugitive to tame Madobe

GOOBJOOG NEWS|GEDO: Abdirashid Janan, the fugitive Jubbaland Security Minister wanted for ‘serious crimes’ and illegal escape from custody Thursday ‘reunited’ with the Federal Government whom it described as a ‘very important person.’

The government-controlled media SNTV said in a tweet Janan who was recently involved in a deadly fight that resulted in the deaths of at least 15 people including five siblings had struck a deal with the Federal Government.

“Somalia’s deputy information minister Abdirahman Adala says, Abdirashid Janan who is very important for the security and stability of Gedo region, strikes an agreement with Somali Federal Government,” SNTV tweeted.

UPDATE: Five siblings, deputy police chief killed in Belet-Hawo fighting

It added that the fugitive who was sacked by Jubbaland president Ahmed Madobe on March 20 will be airlifted to Mogadishu. Janan now becomes Farmaajo’s strongest political weapon against Madobe.

NISA INVOLVEMENT

National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) boss Fahad Yassin, a key architect in the re-election bid of outgoing president Mohamed Farmaajo travelled to Dolow where he reportedly met with Janan before the wanted official appeared in public with deputy information minister Abdirahman Adale.

Janan’s swift transition from an alleged mastermind of massacres and violations of international human rights into a ‘very important person’ is a slap in the face for victims of his alleged atrocities and a mockery of the Somali Police Force which had issued an international warrant of arrest for the embattled former minister.

ESCAPE FROM CUSTODY

Amnesty International in 2019 welcomed the arrest of Janan in Mogadishu as he tried to leave the country and called for his prosecution.

“The investigation and trial of Abdirashid Janan must usher in an era of justice for victims of human rights violations and their families in Somalia,” Amnesty’s Saif Magango said.

But Janan escaped custody in January 2020 in a controversial move that sources close to his detention claimed was organised by some government officials. The SPF would later on February 4 seek INTERPOL’s help in the arrest of Janan whom Somalia claimed was in Kenya and receiving state protection.

MADOBE CHALLENGE

Sources have told Goobjoog News the move to embrace Janan was a strategy by the Farmaajo faction to clip the wings of Ahmed Madobe who has been at loggerheads with the outgoing president.

The influential former security minister wields command of Jubbaland security forces in Gedo region and has mounted a stiff resistance against federal forces.

Somali police force issues international arrest warrant on Janan

During the January fighting in Gedo region, Jubbaland said it had sent reinforcements to Janaan giving him more control of the southern state forces.

Defection to the Farmaajo camp does not only weaken Janan but portends further instability in Gedo as new factional fighting could emerge.