Somali opposition leader Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame has warned that fighting which erupted Tuesday afternoon in southern Galkayo could have serious consequences for the country, cautioning that the violence risks dragging Somalia into a dangerous new phase of instability.
At least seven people were reportedly injured after clashes broke out at around 4:00 p.m. local time in southern Galkayo when clan militias from the Sacad sub-clan of Habar Gidir confronted a convoy of Galmudug police forces escorting trucks carrying weapons and military supplies, according to local sources.
The confrontation reportedly began after the militia intercepted two vehicles transporting ammunition, weapons, and military uniforms, which had earlier arrived at Galkayo Airport, located in the Galmudug-administered part of the divided city.
The convoy was allegedly heading north toward Puntland-controlled Galkayo, where tensions have been rising in recent weeks between Puntland security forces and fighters loyal to the Puntland Security Force (PSF) under Asad Osman Diyano.
Sources familiar with the matter claim the military supplies originated from Mogadishu, although the intended destination and purpose of the shipment have not been independently verified.
Reacting to the violence, Abdirahman Abdishakur, a member of Somalia’s expired federal parliament and one of the country’s leading opposition figures, blamed Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, whose constitutional term the opposition says has expired, for escalating tensions in Galmudug.
“Hassan Sheikh has plunged Galmudug into two dangerous crises: a deeply disputed election that has intensified political divisions and growing tensions that risk igniting conflict between Galmudug and Puntland,” Abdishakur said.
He described Tuesday’s fighting as a warning sign of the potential consequences of the current political trajectory.
“Today’s fighting in southern Galkayo is a clear warning of where this dangerous path could lead. It threatens years of work invested in peace, reconciliation, and coexistence between the brotherly communities of Galkayo,” he added.
Abdishakur, who hails from Galmudug, urged traditional elders, religious leaders, youth, women, and civil society to reject efforts to inflame divisions and instead prioritize peace and dialogue.
“Peace, coexistence, and the protection of civilian lives must take precedence over political disputes. If the situation deteriorates further, it will be the people of Galkayo—not politicians in Mogadishu—who will bear the greatest cost,” he said.
The clashes come amid growing security concerns in the Galkayo area, where relations between Puntland authorities and forces aligned with Asad Diyano’s PSF have remained tense.
The PSF has previously claimed it enjoys support from the Federal Government, an allegation that has fueled political friction between Mogadishu and Puntland.
The Puntland administration also condemned what it described as an attempt by the Federal Government to transport weapons and troops into Puntland territory.
In a statement, the Puntland Presidency praised the Galmudug-based forces that intercepted the shipment and accused the Federal Government of escalating tensions in the region.
The latest incident raises fresh concerns over the fragile security situation in central Somalia, where political disputes between the Federal Government and Puntland have increasingly intersected with local security dynamics.
Analysts warn that further escalation could undermine years of peacebuilding efforts in Galkayo—a city that has historically experienced deadly clashes but has also become a symbol of successful inter-community reconciliation in recent years.
Update: The Galmudug side presented this vehicle which they said was carrying weapons airlifted from Mogadishu into Galkayo south on Tuesday.
At least two people were injured after brief gunfight between Galmudug Darwish officers and police officers guarding the weapons and… https://t.co/94JkKRg9uA pic.twitter.com/eD3XM9857j
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