Galkayo (Kaab TV) – A medical doctor working for the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) at Galkayo General Hospital, was abducted in Galkayo on Tuesday, 21 April, colleagues and locals said.
The abduction Dr. Farah Abdi Mohamed was carried out by armed clan militia who had recently released a video demanding the release of a man detained in Garowe.
According to hospital staff, the militia targeted the doctor due to his clan affiliation, alleging links to Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni.
The group has been calling for the release of a suspect captured in Ethiopia and transferred to Garowe last week.
The individual is reportedly accused of involvement in the 2020 killing of Puntland Presidential Guard Commander Col. Osman Omar Mohamed in Galkayo.
Puntland authorities had previously stated that the suspect had fled to Jigjiga, Ethiopia, before being tracked down and arrested.
The abduction has been widely condemned by residents of Galkayo and across the Mudug region, who are demanding the immediate release of the doctor.
“It is unacceptable to abduct a medical professional who serves the community’s health needs over clan grievances,” said Mohamed Abdullahi, a resident of Galkayo.
Puntland’s Ministry of Health has called on Mudug regional authorities and security agencies to take urgent action to secure Dr. Farah’s release and to curb acts that threaten the safety of healthcare workers.
Local residents expressed deep concern over the incident, warning that such actions could have serious consequences for already vulnerable communities if not addressed.
The Puntland Medical Association (PMA) strongly condemned the abduction, describing it as a “heinous and inhumane act” against a dedicated healthcare worker who has long served the community and played a vital role in saving lives.
The association called on authorities to take immediate and effective measures to ensure his safe return and to prevent similar incidents that endanger medical personnel.
Galkayo General Hospital in the north, partially supported by MSF, provides essential healthcare services, including free outpatient care for women and children. The region of Mudug has been severely affected by drought and lack of rainfall, impacting thousands of vulnerable people.
The abduction of a healthcare worker is likely to further undermine humanitarian operations, as aid workers increasingly face insecurity.
Recurring clan-based reprisals in the Mudug region have particularly affected professionals and community leaders. Authorities in Puntland, along with local clans, have yet to reach a lasting solution to the cycle of abductions and insecurity.
In September last year, armed militia groups in Galkayo killed Dr. Omar Abdi Dahir, a young doctor, in an attack linked to clan-based retaliation.