Preparation for IJA Presidential inauguration underway as security is beefed up

Preparations for the  inauguration ceremony of Ahmed Mohamed Madobe as the President of Interim Jubba Administration is underway in Kismayo with security forces deployed across the city.

Hundreds of guests have been arriving in the town for the ceremony, including traditional elders, MPs and clerics.a

The town is secured by IJA security forces alongside Kenyan forces serving under African Union mission in Somalia (AMISOM) forces.

The security forces were deployed in different neighbourhoods of the town to tighten the security.

The inauguration ceremony of Ahmed Madobe is expected to be held on 12th this month.

Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed Islam  commonly known as Madobe was elected as the president of Jubaland state mid last month.

Sheikh Ahmed Madobe–who was formerly in the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) and later in other militia groups aligned with Al-Shabaab–has been attempting to regain his status in Jubaland after suffering defeat at the hands of his old allies in 2009.

Jubaland historically comprised of Lower and Middle Juba states. But military dictatator and ex-President Siad Barre split up the region in 1975, adding Gedo, Bay, and Bakool states.

The region has seen decades of conflict due to controversial clan resettlements inter-clan fighting, warlordism, Islamic militancy, and fighting over control of lucrative areas like Kismayo port.