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In a significant move toward easing local political friction, the Jubaland administration has released Senator Ilyas Bedel Gaboose after he spent nearly 16 months in detention. Gaboose, a prominent federal senator and opposition figure, had been held under house arrest in Kismayo since 2024. His release is seen as a strategic step by regional leadership to lower the political temperature and foster a sense of reconciliation within the semi-autonomous region.
Shortly after his release on Sunday, Senator Gaboose met with Jubaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam Madobe. The discussions, which also included Sheikh Dahir Ahmed Abdullahi, focused on the urgent need for unity and the long-term well-being of the Jubaland people. Following the meeting, President Madobe took to social media to emphasize that the region’s stability must always come before personal or political rivalries. He expressed a strong commitment to resolving disputes through peaceful dialogue and indicated that his administration is willing to make significant compromises to ensure lasting peace. By framing the release as a gesture of goodwill, the President signaled a desire to move past the era of confrontation that has defined the region’s politics recently.
The tension between the two men dates back to a heated dispute over the regional electoral process. Senator Gaboose was a leading voice against President Madobe’s re-election, heading a faction that openly questioned the legitimacy of the vote in Kismayo. At the time of his arrest, many observers believed Gaboose had the quiet backing of the federal government in Mogadishu, which further strained the relationship between the regional administration and the national leadership. His long detention became a focal point for critics who argued that the Jubaland leadership was using its power to silence dissent and stifle political competition.
With Gaboose now free, many see this as a turning point for Jubaland’s internal politics. The move is being viewed as a calculated effort to mend fences between rival factions and consolidate political support within the region. While it is still unclear if the Senator maintains his previous ties with federal officials in Mogadishu, the immediate priority appears to be local stability. By bringing a high-profile critic back into the fold, the administration hopes to demonstrate a new era of openness and cooperation. This shift suggests that both sides recognize that continued infighting only serves to weaken the region’s future, and that a united front is necessary to address the broader challenges facing the people of Jubaland.