Somalia’s Outgoing PM Heads to Dhusamareb for Galmudug Election Talks

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre is set to head to Dhusamareeb, the seat of Galmudug state, as tensions intensify between regional President Ahmed Abdi Karie (Qoorqoor) and the federal government in Villa Somalia.

People familiar with the plan said Barre’s trip is intended to help bridge the widening political divide and push both sides toward a settlement in Galmudug.

Over the past several days, the prime minister has held a string of consultations in Mogadishu aimed at easing the standoff, according to sources, in coordination with Mahad Salad, the director of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA).

Local journalists say arrangements are already under way in Dhusamareeb to receive Barre, who is expected to move quickly into senior-level discussions after arriving.

Under the planned schedule, Barre will sit down with President Qoorqoor, who has increasingly broken with the federal presidency over disputes tied to the rules and structure of the coming Galmudug regional election.

The dispute centers on a broader political push from Villa Somalia, which is said to be seeking a shift in Galmudug leadership and backing a JSP candidate in the July presidential vote. In local political circles, businessman Liban Ahmed Hassan, widely known as Liban Shuluq, is being mentioned as the federal government’s preferred choice if the current position in Mogadishu holds.

At the same time, Galmudug’s constitution allows Qoorqoor to seek a second term, setting up a direct clash between the regional leadership’s legal option and the federal government’s political calculations.

In Galmudug, residents are following the developments closely, with many warning that the dispute could undermine stability and social unity in the state. The Somali government has also deployed troops to Dhusamareeb in an effort to assert full control of the Federal State.

AXADLETM