GALKAYO, Somalia — President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was greeted by a large crowd in Galkayo on Monday as he began a tour of Galmudug focused on peace, reconciliation and engagement with local communities — a visit that comes against a backdrop of renewed political tensions between Somalia’s federal government and Puntland.
The president’s arrival at the Abdullahi Issa Stadium drew thousands of residents, according to the federal government, which portrayed the reception as a sign of public support for efforts to strengthen peace and national unity.
Mr. Hassan Sheikh praised residents for what he described as their commitment to preserving coexistence in a city that has long been divided between Galmudug and Puntland. He urged them to channel that unity toward reconciliation, stability and support for Somalia’s state institutions.
“Galkayo is a city that unites the Somali people,” the president said, according to a statement from his office, calling on residents to move beyond divisions.
But the visit has unfolded at a particularly sensitive moment. Galkayo has recently been at the center of tensions between Mogadishu and Puntland, with Puntland authorities placing security forces on alert and objecting to the president’s planned visit to the southern, Galmudug-administered side of the city. Puntland accused the federal government of risking a confrontation, while Galmudug rejected those concerns.
The dispute reflects a broader struggle over the balance of power between Somalia’s federal government and its regional administrations. Relations between Mogadishu and Puntland have deteriorated sharply in recent months, with disagreements over political authority and security increasingly spilling into the field. Recent analysis has described Puntland’s consolidation of control over federal-aligned security positions as another setback for Mogadishu’s efforts to expand its influence.
The tensions also come as Somalia faces renewed security challenges. African Union forces are accelerating the transfer of security responsibilities to Somali forces amid uncertainty over the future financing and logistical support of the mission, while Al-Shabaab continues to pose a significant threat in parts of the country.
For Mr. Hassan Sheikh, the Galmudug tour offers an opportunity to project a message of national cohesion at a time when Somalia’s federal political system is under considerable strain. His government has increasingly emphasized direct engagement with communities and regional administrations as part of its effort to consolidate state authority.
Yet the political sensitivities surrounding Galkayo underscore how difficult that task remains. The city has historically been a flashpoint between rival authorities, and disagreements over who controls security and political decision-making have repeatedly threatened fragile local stability.
The president’s office said the visit is part of a broader working tour intended to assess conditions among communities in Galmudug and advance peace efforts.
Whether the trip can ease tensions beyond the crowds that welcomed the president remains a more difficult question. For residents of Galkayo, where political disagreements can quickly become security concerns, the immediate priority is preserving the fragile calm that has allowed communities on both sides of the city to coexist.
