Jubaland President Ahmed Madobe has appointed Mukhtar Sheikh Ahmed Abdulle as the regional state's second deputy president, filling a position left vacant following the death of Abdulkadir Lugadheere in 2025.
KISMAYO (Somali Report) — Jubaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam, widely known as Ahmed Madobe, has appointed a new second deputy president, filling a senior leadership position that had remained vacant since the death of its previous holder in 2025.
In a decree issued on Saturday, Madobe appointed Mukhtar Sheikh Ahmed Abdulle to serve as the regional administration's second vice president.
The appointment was described as part of efforts to strengthen Jubaland's institutions and complete the composition of its senior leadership.
Mukhtar replaces Abdulkadir Haji Mohamud, popularly known as Lugadheere, who died in Nairobi on June 28, 2025, after a period of illness.
Lugadheere had served as Jubaland's second deputy president for several years, remaining in office throughout Madobe's leadership.
The appointment has prompted mixed reactions on Somali social media, with some users congratulating the new appointee while others questioned the political circumstances surrounding the decision.
Some commentators used the announcement to criticise Somalia's wider political culture, particularly the way leadership positions are allocated and political authority is exercised.
"Every man in Somalia should stir things up wherever he is," Mohamed Haji wrote in a social media reaction, apparently referring to the country's recurring political disputes.
Another commentator, Abdi Ali Ahmed, questioned the process of appointing and removing officials, asking whether a president was being treated like a district commissioner who could be appointed and dismissed at will.
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"Is a president someone who can be appointed and then removed whenever people want, like a district commissioner?" he wrote.
Others welcomed the appointment, with Sumayo Ali Same expressing congratulations to the new deputy president.
"Today, too, we have something to celebrate. Congratulations, congratulations," she wrote.
Mahad Ali Toosane, meanwhile, criticised Madobe's political leadership, questioning his position on electoral processes while making senior appointments within his administration.
"The man himself appoints leaders in this manner, yet he wants to talk about elections in the country," he wrote.
The reactions reflect broader political sensitivities surrounding leadership appointments and electoral arrangements in Somalia, where disputes between federal authorities, regional administrations and opposition figures have continued to shape the country's political landscape.
Jubaland, one of Somalia's five federal member states, has been a major centre of political tensions with the federal government, particularly over constitutional changes, electoral arrangements and the distribution of powers between Mogadishu and regional administrations.
Madobe has led Jubaland since its establishment in 2013 and has remained a prominent figure in Somalia's federal politics.
The appointment of Mukhtar is expected to complete the vacant second deputy presidency within the regional administration, although the new appointee's priorities and immediate responsibilities have not been publicly detailed.
About the Author
Ahmed Omar is a senior journalist for Somali Report, based in Mogadishu. He has two decades of experience reporting on Somalia for international and local media. He covers politics, security, governance, business, trade, economic developments and regional affairs.
