Thursday August 6, 2026
Mogadishu (AX) — Former Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has blamed President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud for the political tensions behind the deadly clashes in Galkayo, urging Somali leaders to pursue dialogue before the violence fuels wider instability.
In a statement issued Wednesday, Sheikh Sharif offered condolences to those killed and wounded in the fighting and called on the country’s leaders to halt the disputes and armed confrontations he said were worsening insecurity across Somalia.
“The country needs political stability, compromise and unity to prevent further tensions that threaten Somalia’s security and cohesion,” the statement said.
Sheikh Sharif alleged that President Hassan Sheikh had contributed to mounting political tensions and armed confrontations in several parts of the country, including Galkayo, where Puntland State regional forces fought the Puntland State Security Force (PSF).
He further accused the federal government of deploying the Somali National Army to advance political interests rather than focusing its resources on the campaign against al-Shabab.
“Rather than directing the country’s military capabilities toward defeating al-Shabab, the national army is being used for political purposes, further dividing Somali society,” Sheikh Sharif said.
The former president appealed to all Somali stakeholders to settle their differences through dialogue and reconciliation, warning that prolonged political confrontation could damage national unity and undermine security.
His statement came hours after Puntland State forces captured the PSF headquarters on Galkayo’s eastern outskirts following intense clashes that began before dawn. Puntland State authorities characterized the action as a planned security operation targeting forces they said were operating outside the regional government’s chain of command.
Speaking in Garowe after the operation, Puntland State President Said Abdullahi Deni described the assault as “a planned security operation” designed to deliver “a clear message to anyone working against the Puntland State government.”
By Wednesday evening, the federal government had not publicly responded to Sheikh Sharif’s allegations or to Puntland State’s actions.
