Somalia’s Federal Government and Galmudug Clash Over Rival Police Chief Appointments

MOGADISHU, Somalia – A fresh power struggle has broken out between Somalia’s federal authorities and the Galmudug administration after both sides issued competing orders over who should lead the region’s police force.

The confrontation escalated on Thursday when the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) announced that it had removed the sitting Galmudug Police Commander, Khaliif Abdulle Maalin, better known as “Ilkacase.” The federal authorities then named Colonel Mohamed Dahir Abdulle, a senior officer who previously served with the Presidential Guard at Villa Somalia, as his replacement.

Galmudug President Ahmed Abdi Kariye, known as Qoorqoor, moved quickly to block the federal decision. In a state decree, he rejected Mogadishu’s appointment and reinstated Khaliif Ilkacase to the post, restoring the commander the central government had just dismissed.

The dueling decrees underscore a growing dispute over who has the authority to appoint security officials in Somalia’s federal member states. Under the country’s federal system, control of regional police forces has long been one of the most sensitive points of friction between Mogadishu and state leaders.

The latest tit-for-tat decision could also unsettle Galmudug’s security chain of command at a pivotal moment. The state is continuing military operations against Al-Shabaab militants and is also moving toward an election, raising the stakes of any leadership confusion inside the police structure.

As of now, neither the Federal Ministry of Internal Security nor the Galmudug State House has clarified how the two rival appointments are expected to function in practice.

AXADLETM