Key Somali state cuts ties with federal gov't

The State of Jubbaland in southern Somalia has severed ties with the federal government of Somalia following a vote of no confidence on the State Assembly late on Saturday.

Jubbaland administration said in a statement Sunday it was officially cutting off ties with the federal government over what it termed as illegal action against the provisions of the conflict resolution between the Federal and State governments.

Jubbaland also accused the federal government of failing to adhere to the provisions of the provisional constitution, which sets dialogue as the formal conflict resolution mechanism.

On Saturday, the parliament in Mogadishu voted in favor of a motion, declaring the constituting of the Jubbaland assembly illegal. 132 out of 150 members endorsed the declaration of the state assembly illegal.

"After parliament, whose quorum did not meet the minimum threshold falsely voted the Jubbaland Assembly illegal, today (Sunday) Jubbaland hereby ceases cooperation with the central government," read the statement.

The severance of ties between the Mogadishu-based Federal Government and Jubbaland could deal a blow to peace process in southern Somalia, which has battled with the militant group Al- Shabaab for a long time.

The Jubbaland administration, which oversees the region in the southern part of the country, in August 2013, signed the agreement in the Ethiopian capital, officially allying itself with Somalia's Federal Government.

Among its main points, the agreement established the terms of governance in the Lower Jubba, Middle Jubba and Gedo regions. Endi