Wednesday July 29, 2026
Mogadishu (AX) — Former Somali Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke has issued a stark warning against a military escalation in Galkayo, saying fresh fighting in the divided Mudug region city could fuel instability, uproot civilians and undermine operations against militant groups.
Writing on X, Sharmarke criticized the movement of Puntland State forces in Galkayo and called on the regional leadership to avoid an unwarranted confrontation with other Puntland State-linked forces.
“Galkacyo is not Almiskad,” Sharmarke wrote, drawing a distinction with the mountainous area where Puntland State troops have carried out operations against Islamic State-linked militants. “Puntland State State of Somalia authority must refrain itself from waging a war of aggression against fellow Puntland State Forces without any legal justifications.”
He argued that directing troops, weapons and other resources toward a potential conflict in Galkayo would erode the human and material capacity required for counterterrorism efforts.
“The amount of weaponry that has been directed towards this looming conflict in Galkacyo city will definitely drain human and material capital needed for the war on terror,” he said.
Any outbreak of fighting in Galkayo, Sharmarke warned, could destabilize the wider region, create a humanitarian emergency and pull additional forces into the confrontation.
“State figures, traditional leaders and religious scholars must stand to prevent such unnecessary conflict before it happens,” he said.
Galkayo is among central Somalia’s most politically sensitive cities, with Puntland State administering the north and Galmudug controlling the south. Political disputes, clan tensions and armed clashes have repeatedly affected the city, meaning troop movements there often raise concerns far beyond its boundaries.
Sharmarke urged federal officials, traditional elders and religious scholars to play a stronger role in defusing tensions. Political and security disagreements, he said, should be settled through dialogue and consensus rather than military force.
His intervention followed a warning from Puntland State earlier this week accusing Galmudug of allowing troops and military equipment to transit its territory toward Puntland State-administered areas. Puntland State characterized the alleged movements as a security threat.
Galmudug denied that it was preparing for conflict in Galkayo and said Puntland State’s internal disputes should be addressed through talks. It also appealed to the parties not to turn Galkayo into an arena for resolving political or military disagreements.
The tensions come as Somalia remains under pressure from al-Shabab across southern and central regions, while Puntland State continues operations against Islamic State-linked militants in the Calmiskaat mountains.
