Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed Islaan (Madobe)

After another week of fighting for control of Kismayo port Ahmed Mohamed Islaan 'Madobe' and his Ras Kamboni militia have strengthened their grip over the region and its trade routes...

It was Ahmed Madobe's claims to have been elected President of Jubaland at a regional conference that sparked the latest fighting...

Against Hassan Sheikh’s orders Kenya allows Ahmed Mohamed Islaan ‘Madobe’ leader of its local ally the Ras Kamboni militia to profit from the export of stockpiles of charcoal from Kismayo port (AC Vol 53 No 20 Takeover at Kismayo & AC Vol 53 No 22 Not yet spring in Mogadishu)...

Hassan Sheikh attempted to prevent both key charcoal exports and any heavy-handed imposition of clan power by Ahmed Mohamed Islaan ‘Madobe’ leader of the Ras Kamboni militia allied to Kenya (AC Vol 53 No 23 Breaking ranks in Kismayo)...

His Mohamed Zubeir sub-clan Rer Abdulle is stronger than the Rer Isaaq the sub-clan of Ahmed Mohamed Islaan ‘Madobe’ the Ras Kamboni leader who is currently challenging Mogadishu’s authority with Kenyan support...

However Ahmed Mohamed Islaan ‘Madobe’ (Ogaden/Mohamed Zubeir/Rer Isaaq) made it clear that he was in charge and the visitors were not welcome...

The thinking in Nairobi some believe is that the sales could benefit Ogadeni business people close to the Ras Kamboni militia leader Ahmed Mohamed Islaan ‘Madobe’ (Darod/Ogadeni)...

Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed Islaan ‘Madobe’ (AC Vol 52 No 22) leader of the Ogaden Ras Kamboni Brigade (RKB) Kenya’s main military ally in the area is expecting to run the city and perhaps the regional governorate...

Alternatively a figurehead from a minority clan may be given nominal control with Ahmed Madobe exercising the real power in the background according to one scenario...

Charcoal exporters (close to Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed Islaan ‘Madobe’ the Ras Kamboni leader and a key figure in Kismayo) want to restart their business but Kenya will try to ban it making Kenyan soldiers arbiters in the region’s bitter trade rivalries...

The first is led by Ahmed Mohamed Islaan ‘Madobe’ who took over most of the Ras Kamboni Islamist group from its historic leader Hasan Abdallah Hirsi ‘al Turki’ in October 2009 after a row over a deal with Al Shabaab on who would rule Kismayo...

Ahmed Madobe leads a group of trained fighters but his clan outlook is very limited and his own background could rule out collaboration with the TFG...

Last year Al Shabaab defeated its former ally Hizbul Islam under Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed Islaan ‘Madobe’ and retained control of Kismayo but Madobe’s fighters are still active there threatening Al Shabaab’s control of Lower Juba; towns such as Dhobley near the Kenyan border have changed hands several times...