Somali court revokes arrest warrant against Jubbaland president ahead of Mogadishu talks
Mogadishu (Somali Report) — A court in Mogadishu has annulled an arrest warrant issued against the president of Somalia’s Jubbaland state, Ahmed Mohamed Islam Madobe, clearing the way for his expected participation in high-stakes political talks scheduled to begin Feb. 1, officials said.
The Banadir Regional Court said it had formally revoked all previous arrest and production orders against Madobe, citing a review of the criminal case filed under reference number MGB/DCL/1531/2024. The decision was reached on Jan. 29, according to a letter issued by the court.
The ruling referenced multiple provisions of the Somali Penal Code including Articles 70(1)(B)(2), 76, 77 and 107(3) as well as the Provisional Constitution, and said the annulment was carried out in line with Somalia’s legal framework and judicial procedures.
“The decision reflects the protection of legal rights and obligations and the proper functioning of the country’s judicial institutions,” the court said, adding that all legal measures related to the case had been addressed in accordance with the law.
Somali Report · Newsletter
Your morning briefing on Somalia's biggest stories — politics, security, business, and the people shaping the region's future.
The move is widely seen as removing a major obstacle to Madobe’s travel to Mogadishu for a consultative conference between the federal government and the Somali Future Council, a powerful opposition alliance that includes leaders from Jubbaland and Puntland.
The federal government has said the conference is aimed at reinforcing national unity and social cohesion, advancing a democratic process grounded in dialogue and compromise, and ensuring that public participation plays a central role in shaping Somalia’s political future.
The talks come as Somalia faces mounting domestic and international pressure to agree on an electoral framework, with current political mandates nearing their end. Diplomats and political analysts have repeatedly warned that failure to reach consensus could reopen deep political rifts, undermine recent security gains against al-Shabab and stall broader state-building efforts.
Madobe, a longtime and often contentious political figure, has had a strained relationship with the federal government in Mogadishu.
About the Author
Osman Hassan is a Senior Editor at the Somali Report based in Nairobi with over 15 years of experience in journalism. He has worked with local and international media outlets in Somalia and is an award-winning journalist. His reporting focuses on politics, security, and regional affairs in the Horn of Africa.
