Galkayo (KAAB TV) – Armed community militants attacked the central prison in Galkayo city early Friday morning, targeting the part controlled by Puntland, while trying to free the prisoners sentenced to death.
This attack is the latest in a series of ongoing clan wars that are affecting the security of the Mudug region of Somalia.
The attackers engaged in a brief fight with the security forces, resulting in the death of one person. It is not clear whether the militias have succeeded in freeing their targets or not. The Puntland authorities have not yet issued an official statement, while questions are being asked about the condition of the prison and where the prisoners will end up.
Sources say that the attack was aimed at freeing individuals who were sentenced by the Puntland High Court for killing businessman Ahmed Tahliil, who was widely known in the region. The court has recently sentenced the gangs who committed the murders to death and long prison terms.
Mudug region, which is located on the border between Puntland and Galmudug, is still a scene of tribal wars and military activities. Analysts say that such incidents show deep obstacles to the establishment of law and order in one of the most serious areas of Somalia.
The recent attack has rekindled concerns about the effectiveness of security measures at the central prison in Galkayo, highlighting the continued laxity of Puntland’s prison system. The complex’s troubled history of escapes, including the 2024 prison break by several militants, has raised questions about security forces. Although there is no indication of the involvement of Al-Shabaab in this latest incident, this attack shows the constant instability in the centers of Puntland.