Somalia Supreme Court military chief General Liban Ali has accused MPs and top government officials of allegedly hosting Al-Shabaab defectors across the war torn nation.
Traditionally, Al-Shabaab defectors are expected to surrender to Somalia National Army or AMISOM troops before they are integrated to the society.
General Ali on Thursday warned clans and government officials against hosting defectors during his trip to South West region. The warning comes even as Jubbaland opened polling stations for presidential election.
"Supreme Military Court Chief Gen Liban Ali Yarow who is visiting Southwest warned the clans, govt officials against sheltering Al-Shabaab defectors w/o registering them w the govt. He says he learned some MPs and officials have been hosting defectors w/o reporting them to govt," tweeted Harun Maruf.
Since 2011 when Kenya Defense Forces invaded Somalia, hundreds of militants have either been killed or surrendered to the forces. Equally, a number of soldiers have also lost lives.
Jubbaland where Sector 2 and Sector 6 is manned by KDF, has recorded the highest number of defectors. On Thursday, the state is electing a new president.
"Jubaland MPs have started casting their votes in the region’s leadership election. Incumbent Ahmed Madobe is widely seen as the favourite to win re-election in a process marred by political dispute between the federal govt and the region," Maruf added.
To defend the state from alleged external interference by federal government, KDF soldiers with Jubbaland authorities closed Kismayo Airport on Tuesday, a move that was condemned by Modadishu.
"Jubaland administration has just announced the closure of the Kismayo Airport effective 20 August 2019 at 06:00PM; until the day after the election on 23rd August 2019. Announcement says movement of security forces willl not be allowed on Election Day 22 August," wrote VOA journalist Harun Maruf.
The impasse in Jubbaland has seen former presidents Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, former Galmudug state President Abdulkarim Gulled and current Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni support the poll agency.
With the elections though, the interests in Jubbaland have grown beyond Somalia.
On Thursday, a group of academics said the impact of the poll would shake regional security policies.
“There are contestations from many players. Jubbaland is like the umbilical cord of Somalia and Kenya. It is very strategic,” said Patrick Maluki, a diplomacy lecturer at the University of Nairobi.