Inside Villa Somalia: Growing Rift Over Galmudug’s Leadership

MOGADISHU — A widening political feud is taking shape inside Somalia’s federal leadership, with a struggle over Galmudug’s next president exposing fault lines around President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s inner circle.

Sources familiar with the talks told Axadle that shortly after returning from Djibouti, where he attended the inauguration ceremony of President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, President Hassan Sheikh privately urged one of his close political allies — a businessman described as holding substantial influence over revenues tied to the Mira (Khat) trade — to begin preparing a run for the Galmudug presidency.

The reported decision angered National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) Director Mahad Salad, who has in recent years emerged as one of the president’s most trusted political and security allies inside Villa Somalia.

Political insiders say the dispute is linked to a wider power-sharing understanding that has quietly been discussed among senior figures in Mogadishu and Djibouti. Under that arrangement, President Hassan Sheikh is said to have assured officials close to the Djiboutian leadership that former Somali police commander and current federal lawmaker Sadiq John would eventually be appointed to lead NISA.

In that scenario, Mahad Salad would move into regional politics and seek the Galmudug presidency, while Sadiq John would take over the intelligence agency.

But sources say the deal began to fall apart after the president changed direction and instead backed Libaan Shuluq’s entry into the Galmudug presidential contest, a move that left several key figures frustrated and convinced earlier promises had been set aside.

In the past few hours, Mahad Salad is said to have told both President Hassan Sheikh and Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre that he now intends to personally run for the Galmudug presidency — a development widely seen in political circles as a major blow to Villa Somalia.

Political sources also say Mahad Salad has stepped back from discussions about a possible extension of the federal government’s mandate, making clear that his political attention is now fixed squarely on Galmudug.

At the same time, Galmudug President Ahmed Abdi Karie “Qoor Qoor” appeared to offer thinly veiled criticism of President Hassan Sheikh during his Eid address on Friday. Reliable sources say Qoor Qoor is preparing to organize an election in Adado, a town long regarded as a political stronghold tied to his clan base.

The tensions are surfacing at a delicate moment for Somalia’s federal government, which is already under growing strain over electoral disputes, questions of political legitimacy, and uncertainty about the country’s next transition.

Analysts say the contest now unfolding in Galmudug could help shape Somalia’s political direction in the months ahead, especially as alliances inside Villa Somalia continue to shift behind closed doors.