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Kenyan soldiers from AU peacekeeping Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) walk along the sandy beaches in Kismayu/XINHUA-File

Africa

Ex-Islamist Somali warlord elected ‘president’ of key region

It has “sent a clear signal of the Somali people’s true aspirations for peace, security, democracy and unity in a federal republic,” it said in a statement.

There was no immediate reaction from Mogadishu.

Neighbouring Kenya, whose troops remain based across the south, has been accused of trying to carve out a buffer zone in Somalia to protect its porous border.

In 2011, Kenya backed former Somali defence minister and French-educated academic Mohamed Abdi Mohamed – also known as Gandhi – to be the new head of the southern region, which he dubbed “Azania”.

However, his forces made little headway, and Kenya shifted support to Madobe, who reportedly enjoys strong ties with senior Kenyan military officials.

Control of Southern Somalia is split between multiple forces including Madobe’s militia, the Shabaab, other clan forces, Kenyan troops and Ethiopian soldiers.

Madobe comes from Somalia’s Ogadeni clan, powerful in the wider region, but the Marehan and Majerteen clans are also strong, and there has been much political infighting.

The Shabaab too still remain a threat, including shelling Kenyan troops and delegates at the conference at the airport in Kismayu last month.

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