Puntland has accused Somalia’s Federal Government of preparing to provoke renewed conflict in Mudug as Hassan Sheikh Mohamud plans to visit Galmudug including southern Galkayo.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Puntland said it was closely monitoring what it described as preparations by Villa Somalia to create “new conflict” in the region.
The administration specifically objected to Hassan Sheikh’s planned visit to southern Galkayo, which is administered by Galmudug.
Puntland warned that the visit could inflame tensions in Galkayo, a city divided administratively between Puntland and Galmudug, and urged the Galmudug administration and residents of southern Galkayo to protect peace and prevent the city from being used for political purposes.
“Puntland is closely monitoring the planned preparations and warns against the planned visit to southern Galkayo in Galmudug, which is intended to spread division and create conflict in Galkayo, where the two sides of Puntland and Galmudug live together peacefully and stably,” the Puntland statement said.
The administration also said its security forces were prepared to fulfill what it described as their responsibility to protect security and the unity of the population in areas under Puntland’s control.
Puntland has further appealed to Somali society and other stakeholders to reject actions that could undermine peace in Mudug.
Tensions After Recent Galkayo Clashes
The warning comes shortly after renewed fighting and military tensions in Galkayo. On August 5, Puntland said its forces had taken control of a military compound in the city after clashes with forces aligned with the Federal Government.
The latest dispute therefore comes against an already sensitive security backdrop, with both sides accusing the other of deploying forces and weapons in areas they consider to fall within their respective spheres of authority.
Galkayo has long been one of Somalia’s most politically sensitive cities because it is divided between Puntland in the north and Galmudug in the south.
The city has previously witnessed deadly clashes between forces from the two administrations, making any military or political escalation particularly concerning.
Wider Federal-Puntland Dispute
The confrontation is also part of a much broader political dispute between Puntland and the Federal Government.
Puntland has rejected several decisions by Mogadishu concerning constitutional changes, political transition and the distribution of federal authority, and its relationship with the central government has deteriorated significantly.
Puntland’s latest statement reflects its concern that a presidential visit to an area bordering its territory could become politically and militarily sensitive, particularly following the recent clashes in Galkayo.
The Federal Government has not, in the statement cited here, publicly accepted Puntland’s allegations that the planned visit is intended to provoke conflict.
With tensions already high, any further deployment of forces around Galkayo could increase the risk of another confrontation and disrupt movement and civilian life in a city that remains a key commercial and transport center in central Somalia.
The immediate challenge for both sides will be to prevent political disagreements from escalating into another armed confrontation and to ensure that local communities are not caught between competing federal and regional security forces.
