Jubbaland releases senator Ilyaas Gaboose after more than a year in detention

The Jubbaland administration has released Senator Ilyaas Bedel Gaboose after he spent nearly one year and four months in detention under the regional government led by President Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Ahmed Madobe).

Hours after his release, President Ahmed Madobe held a consultative meeting with Senator Gaboose and Sheikh Daahir Ahmed Abdullahi. The meeting focused on strengthening unity, peace, and the public interest of the Jubbaland people.

In a statement shared on his Facebook page, President Madobe said the parties agreed that unity, peace, and the common good of Jubbaland should take precedence over political differences. He added that the Jubbaland administration is ready to make broad compromises to achieve lasting stability and full reconciliation.

“We are committed to resolving all political differences through peaceful means that protect the public interest, stability, and the future of the people of Jubbaland,” the president said.

Senator Gaboose was arrested in 2024 after an opposition group opposed to President Madobe organized an election in Kismaayo and declared him president of Jubbaland. The move significantly deepened political tensions between Jubbaland and the Federal Government of Somalia.

The release of Senator Gaboose is widely seen as an important political step and part of broader efforts to build new understanding among Jubbaland’s political actors, unify local leadership, and move past prolonged disputes.