Somalia’s Puntland State, Galmudug security committees meet in Galkayo to strengthen coordination

GALKAYO, Somalia — Security officials from Puntland State and Galmudug met Sunday in Galkayo to coordinate plans for stabilizing Somalia’s divided Mudug region, pledging closer cooperation and heightened vigilance ahead of Eid al-Fitr, officials said.

The joint session brought together members of the two states’ security committees to assess the overall security picture, examine recurrent flashpoints along their shared boundary and align responses to threats that spill across administrative lines. The meeting, held in a city that has in past years witnessed periodic clashes, aimed to shift longstanding paper agreements into day-to-day practice on the ground.

Officials said discussions focused on tightening coordination between security agencies operating along common frontiers, accelerating the exchange of intelligence and reinforcing joint measures to deter violence. Both sides agreed to prioritize the implementation of earlier security pacts, emphasizing that renewed communication channels and clear lines of responsibility are essential to preventing miscalculations in mixed-control areas.

Mudug, split between Puntland State in the north and Galmudug in the south, has experienced intermittent tensions tied to clan disputes, criminal activity and militant threats. Galkayo has repeatedly been cited by local leaders and residents as a flashpoint, given its position straddling the two administrations’ spheres of control and its role as a commercial hub that draws frequent movement of people and goods.

With increased travel and large public gatherings expected for the Eid al-Fitr holiday, the committees placed special emphasis on risk mitigation during the festive period. Officials said both administrations intend to put additional safeguards in place to protect civilians and ensure smooth celebrations.

• Strengthening day-to-day coordination across shared boundaries to prevent incidents and resolve disputes quickly
• Accelerating intelligence sharing to track criminal and militant activity that crosses administrative lines
• Translating earlier joint security agreements into practical, on-the-ground operations
• Introducing extra holiday measures to secure public spaces, transport routes and places of worship during Eid

Authorities did not immediately disclose deployment figures or the specific mix of measures to be used during the holiday period. However, they said renewed coordination is intended to reduce opportunities for armed groups and criminal networks to exploit gaps between the two systems, particularly when towns and roads grow busier.

Sunday’s meeting reflects a shared calculation by Puntland State and Galmudug officials that consistent, structured collaboration can help dampen the cyclical spikes of insecurity that have periodically rattled communities in Mudug. By reiterating commitments to communicate early, patrol more predictably and enforce existing accords, both sides signaled an intent to prioritize public safety as Eid approaches.

While the region’s layered challenges—spanning inter-clan grievances, criminal economies and insurgent threats—will require sustained engagement beyond the holiday, security officials said the near-term objective is clear: safeguard civilians, reduce the risk of escalatory incidents and keep roads and marketplaces open during one of the year’s busiest travel periods.

By Ali Musa

Axadle Times international–Monitoring.