The Federal government of Somalia has issued a warrant of arrest for the President of Jubaland state in what can be seen as a reciprocal measure after a judge in Jubaland had earlier issued the same warrant for Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

MOGADISHU, Somalia – Jubaland, a federal member state of Somalia, has issued an arrest warrant for Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in retaliation for a similar decision by a Mogadishu-based court, which sought the arrest of the region’s leader, Ahmed Mohamed Islam Madobe, on charges of ‘treason.’

In an emergency cabinet meeting, Somalia’s Federal Government declared Ahmed Madobe’s re-election invalid and instructed the Attorney General to file a case with the Supreme Court. While the government has not disclosed its next steps, the situation in Jubaland remains volatile.