The political standoff between Jubbaland and the Federal Government of Somalia intensified on Monday after Jubbaland’s Parliament announced a major constitutional change, formally dropping the title “federal member state” and reclassifying the region simply as a “government.” The announcement was delivered by the Speaker of the Jubbaland Parliament, Abdi Mohamed Abdirahmaan, who addressed the media during the 8th Jubbaland Health Conference, stating that lawmakers had approved amendments removing the term regional state from the regional charter. “Waad ogtihiin, dastuurka waxaa ka saarnay dowlad-goboleed. Xubnaha baarlamaanka waa fadhiyaan, goboleedka ayaan ka saarnay, haddana waa dowladda Jubbaland,” the Speaker said, before instructing the regional cabinet to adopt the new designation in all official communication.
Although he did not provide further legal explanation or outline the political implications behind the decision, the declaration comes at a time when relations between Jubbaland and Villa Somalia are severely strained. Communication between the two sides has broken down completely amid disagreements over governance, security coordination and preparations for upcoming elections. Jubbaland, much like Puntland before it, is now distancing itself from federal-level processes and has stopped participating in key political discussions with the central government.
The move adds another layer of complexity to Somalia’s already fragile federal structure. Legal analysts note that the Federal Constitution still recognizes Jubbaland as a member state, raising questions about how the declaration will be interpreted by federal institutions. Officials in Mogadishu have not yet issued a formal response, though insiders describe the move as politically charged and potentially disruptive to Somalia’s broader state-building agenda.
With both Puntland and Jubbaland now openly rejecting aspects of the federal framework, analysts warn that Somalia could face deeper fragmentation unless efforts to revive political dialogue succeed. The declaration comes at a critical moment as the country works to complete constitutional reforms, finalize the electoral model and advance toward national elections. For now, Jubbaland’s rebranding of itself as a government marks a new escalation in the widening political divide and sets the stage for heightened tensions in Somalia’s evolving federal landscape.
