Press Release

The government of Jubbaland is aware an alleged confidential report by U.N. Monitors Group accusing Kenya Soldiers assigned to AMISOM and the Jubbaland administration of colluding to facilitate the illegal export of charcoal from Kismayo port. The government of Jubbaland will not respond in particular to a report that has not been released officially by the UN monitoring body.

However, the Jubbaland government wishes to reassure its citizens and the international community that the government of Jubbaland has neither facilitated nor condoned the illegal export of charcoal from Kismayo. The government of Jubbaland has not acted either alone or in concert with anyone to facilitate the illegal export of charcoal from Kismayo port. The government of Jubbaland has been working diligently with the AMISOM soldiers to defeat Al-Shabab, bring peace and security to Jubbaland and the city of Kismayo in particular.

Jubbaland State President H. E. Ahmed Mohamed Islam had introduced on June 19, 2013 a Presidential Degree Imposing Ban on Charcoal Trade in support of UN and SFG resolutions. The efforts of the Jubbaland government to bring order and security to Kismayo have been hampered and sabotaged by the armed militias funded and armed from Mogadishu. The government of Jubbaland has requested, on numerous occasions, to the government in Mogadishu to stop the armed militia attacking the lawful administration of Jubbaland so that the people of Jubbaland can be provided with peace and security.

We demand Somali Federal Government to clarify its position with respect to unwavering support provided to Warlord Col. Barre Aden Shire a.k.a (Hirale) who declared himself as member of Al-Shabab group waging war with AMISOM, Jubbaland State and Somalia people, unless SFG distanced itself to Col. Barre Aden Shire a.k.a (Hirale), we have a reason to believe that SFG is supporting and working with Al-Shabab group.

It is no secret that some of the militias attacking Kismayo, either alone or in cooperation with the terrorist organization Alshabab, have themselves profited from the illegal charcoal trade for many years when they controlled Kismayo. They also are still illegally exporting charcoal from Merca and Barawa to this day without intervention from the federal government. The government of Jubbaland condemns the baseless and ill-informed accusations originating from Mogadishu and being published on websites that have shamefully opposed the peaceful birth of Jubbaland region.

Abdinasser Serar
+252-616070007