Competing Baidoa conferences highlight pitfalls of federalism process
Tensions continue to rise among various stakeholders in Baidoa over the formation of a new federal state, bringing into question once more Somalia's ability to implement federalism.
On March 3rd, Madobe Nunow Mohamed was elected president of a new regional administration called South-western State comprising Bay, Bakol, Lower Shabelle, Gedo, Lower Jubba and Middle Jubba regions. However, three of those regions -- Gedo, Middle Jubba and Lower Jubba -- had previously united to form the Interim Jubba Administration (IJA) in 2013.