DHUUSAMAREB, Somalia — A fresh political standoff is unfolding in central Somalia, as relations between Galmudug state and the federal government appear strained.
The latest dispute erupted after Galmudug President Ahmed Abdi Karie, widely known as Qoor-Qoor, overturned a federal police appointment issued days earlier.
In a decree released by his office, Qoor-Qoor revoked the appointment of Col. Mohamed Dahir and restored Brig. Gen. Khalif Abdulle Maalin as police chief in the region.
The move escalated tensions between Galmudug and Villa Somalia, the seat of Somalia’s federal government in the capital, Mogadishu.
Federal authorities had recently replaced several commanders serving across Galmudug territories, appointing new security officials as part of broader leadership changes.
Qoor-Qoor’s response signaled open resistance to the federal government’s decisions, creating uncertainty over security command structures in the region.
Somalia’s federal government had not publicly responded.
Many observers compared the situation to earlier disputes involving former South West state leader Abdiaziz Lafta-gareen and Somalia’s central government leadership.
That earlier dispute ended with federal authorities ousting Laftagaren from Baidoa, 250km southwest of Mogadishu. Laftagaren is now in exile in Nairobi, claiming he is still the legitimate president of the region.
Analysts say the latest tensions are closely connected to Galmudug’s upcoming political process, where competition over influence and leadership continues steadily intensifying.
In Dhusamareb, residents and political actors now await the federal government’s response as uncertainty surrounding the dispute grows.
