Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Mogadishu (Agenzia Fides) - Hundreds of people have fled in recent days from the port city of Kismayo in southern Somalia, because of the fighting between the two "warlords", which are fighting for the control of Jubaland, an area that wants to be semi-autonomous from the government in Mogadishu.
The clashes took place between the troops of Ahmed Madobe called Ras Kamboni, and those of Hassan Basto. Both have self-proclaimed themselves president of Jubaland.
The Kenyan military did not intervene to stop the contenders. According to some observers, however, the troops of Nairobi, in fact, favored the victory of Modobe. It is suspected that Kenya has territorial ambitions on the Jubaland area, a very fertile and potentially oil-rich area (see Fides 29/05/2013).
Madobe does not entirely control the 3 regions that comprise Jubaland, because the Shabaab control much of the Middle and Lower Juba, while in Gedo the government in Mogadishu has appointed a governor. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 12/06/2013)
