REGIONAL STATE CHECK: Interim Jubba State first official parliament is sworn two years after IJA formation

Our new Regional State Check series seeks to provide an informed up to date understanding of the major developments in Somalia. We focus on the stories which make the headlines in the respective regional states aided by our team of reporters stationed in all parts of the country.
This month we take a look at Interim Jubba Administration, IJA.
Ahmed Madobe on May 15, 2013 was elected as interim Jubbaland president by more than 500 delegates representing tribes and sub-tribes in the region.
In August of same year, Federal Government of Somali sent a high level delegation headed by ex-minister for Justice Farah Ma’alin to the Ethiopian capital Addis to negotiate a deal with Jubba-land Administration to bring to an end the political circus which had been ongoing for quite a while.
April 4, 2015 IJA Security Forces Commander Hassan Qayd tells Goobjoog News his team is intensifying security owing to fledging security situation in the border region and neighboring Kenya saying the planned wall by the Kenyan government will make significant difference.
April 3, 2015 Jubbaland regional state president Ahmed Mohammed condemns in the strongest terms the gruesome attack at Garissa University, Kenya where 148 people most of them students were massacred by the militant group Al-Shabaab.
April 10, 2015: Interim Jubba Administration president Ahmed Mohammed travels to Kenya on official duty. The regional leader and Kenyan government discuss possible offensive in Gedo region.
April 11, 2015: Deputy president of IJA,Abdullahi Fartag dismisses speculations that some of delegates assigned to select IJA MPs withdrew from the conference and hit back at the critics who had questioned the way he handled the regional parliament selection process.

 

April 12, 2015: Federal Parliament lawmaker Mohamed Mahamoud Ali opposes the ongoing regional parliament selection process for failing to consult and include all clans in the Jubbba.
April 14, 2015: Gedo elders and community heads raise concerns over airstrikes by Kenyan forces which they claim had destroyed their property.
Adan Ali, one of elders in the village of Damas tells Goobjoog News (Somali service) there were casualties caused by Kenyan bombardment on civilian sites and he underscored that they (Kenyan military) sometimes commit physical torture against innocent civilians.
April 15, 2015: The first Interim Jubba State parliament members are sworn in after completion of selection process.
April 18, 2015:Elder Sirad Nor from Gedo region expresses disapproval over newly proclaimed regional parliament, stating that as elders of Jubba and Gedo regions they had not been involved in the selection process.
April 18, 2015: State parliament chaired by Sheik. Abdi Ali holds its first parliamentary meeting in presidential state house. The aim of the meeting was to train new MPs on house standing orders and procedures. State president Ahmed Madobe addresses the house calling on them to take up the responsibilities in building the state. He assures them IJA is now anchored in the country’s supreme law.
April 19, 2015: IJA president Ahmed Madobe receives UNHCR delegation headed by UNHCR envoy to Somalia Bushra Halepota to discuss ways of repatriating Somali refugees in Kenya. On his part Ahmed Madobe expressed his readiness to welcome Somalis if they opt to come home back.
April 19, 2015: At least three Kenyan soldiers are killed and eight more injured after an ambush carried out by Al-Shabab on a convoy of Kenya military battalion travelling in Lower Jubba-region.
April 20, 2015: A delegation by UNSOM and AMISOM visits Kismayo for talks with Interim Jubba Administration in the matters of security and the prospect of peace in the region.
April 20, 2015: IJA President Ahmed Madobe condemns Garowe blast in which eight UN staff were killed while heading minibus to work.
April 21, 2015: A delegation headed by the Britain ambassador to Somalia Neil Wigan visits Kismayo regional administrative capital of IJA and Ahmed Madobe and are received by Ahmed Madobe and other state officials.
April 22, 2015: Federal Government MP Idle Gedi lauds the IJA parliament selection process. He hits out at critics for failing to participate yet demanding a seat in the assembly.
April 25, 2015: Two soldiers are killed and several others wounded following a brawl in Bula-hawa region over dispute on revenue collection.
April 27, 2015: Somali president welcomes the newly formed IJA administration saying “this a testimony how ready and serious we all are in the efforts of federal states formations.”
April 28, 2015:IJA parliament speaker and deputy speaker are elected. Sheikh Abdi Mohmmed is declared winner with 45 out of 72 votes; Adan Khalif haji Yousuf as first deputy speaker and Abdi Balia as second deputy speaker despite his initial contest to become regional parliament speaker.