Dhusamareb (Somalia Today) — Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre arrived in Galmudug’s capital Dhusamareb on Wednesday for talks aimed at easing a political standoff over the central state’s leadership and planned elections, after several delays to his visit.
Galmudug President Ahmed Abdi Kariye, widely known as Qoorqoor, received Barre at Ugaas Nuur Airport alongside National Intelligence and Security Agency chief Mahad Mohamed Salad, federal ministers, regional lawmakers, military officers and local residents.
The prime minister later travelled to the Galmudug presidential palace, where officials said he would remain for several days and hold meetings with the regional leadership, elders, women, youth and civil society representatives.
“The visit of Prime Minister Hamza is focused on strengthening state-building,” his office said, adding that he would meet “the leadership of Galmudug State and different sections of society” during his stay in Dhusamareb.
Barre said the trip came as Galmudug marked two decades since its establishment, describing the region as a symbol of resilience and federal-state building in Somalia.
“This year marks two decades since the establishment of Galmudug as a Federal Member State of Somalia,” he said in a statement on X.
“Over the past 20 years, Galmudug has earned a special place in our Republic, standing as a testament to the resilience of its people, the strength of our federal system, and our collective commitment to peace, security, and national unity.”
Election dispute
The visit comes as federal and Galmudug officials seek to resolve a dispute over the state’s political transition, with Villa Somalia pushing ahead with its wider direct election agenda.
Sources familiar with the talks told Somalia Today that negotiations between the federal government and Qoorqoor had made progress after several rounds led on the federal side by NISA director Mahad Salad, one of the most influential figures in President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration.
The discussions have focused on a possible political settlement under which Qoorqoor would leave office or refrain from seeking another term, clearing the way for elections expected in July, the sources said.
They said negotiators had also discussed guarantees linked to a peaceful handover. Neither the federal government nor Galmudug has publicly announced a final deal, and Somalia Today has not seen a written agreement setting out the proposed arrangement.
Barre is expected to take part in the closing stage of the talks, which federal officials hope will end weeks of uncertainty in Galmudug and prevent a confrontation between Mogadishu and Dhusamareb.
Galmudug’s leadership dispute has become one of the most sensitive tests of Somalia’s federal system, which remains shaped by clan power-sharing, local security calculations and competition between federal and regional authorities.
The state traces its origins to 2006, but its current federal member state structure took shape in 2015, following a state-formation process involving Galgadud and parts of Mudug. Dhusamareb later became its political capital.
Villa Somalia’s candidate
Political sources say Villa Somalia wants a leadership change in Galmudug and hopes to position a candidate aligned with the ruling Justice and Solidarity Party (JSP).
Businessman Liibaan Ahmed Hassan has been widely discussed as the preferred JSP candidate for the Galmudug presidency, although officials have not formally confirmed him as the party’s final choice.
The manoeuvring follows a similar political shift in South West State, where former federal parliament speaker Sheikh Aden Mohamed Nur Madobe won the presidency earlier this month after JSP secured a dominant position in regional polls.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud praised the South West vote as “a new chapter in Somalia’s history”, saying it showed the country could gradually move away from indirect clan-based elections towards one-person, one-vote politics.
But opposition figures have accused Villa Somalia of using the direct election programme to tighten its grip over federal member states and sideline regional leaders who resist Mogadishu’s preferred candidates.
The federal government rejects those accusations, saying direct elections can end decades of elite bargaining and give citizens a real vote in local, regional and national institutions.
Somalia has long relied on indirect elections in which clan elders and selected delegates choose lawmakers, who then elect presidents and speakers. Authorities adopted the system because of insecurity, weak institutions and the presence of Al-Shabaab across large parts of the country.
Fragile balance
For Galmudug, the political stakes are especially high.
The state sits in central Somalia, where federal and regional forces have fought Al-Shabaab while also managing fragile clan balances. Any contested transition could widen divisions among communities and distract from security operations.
Residents in Dhusamareb and other Galmudug towns are closely watching the talks, with many fearing that a breakdown could split the administration and undermine the state’s cohesion.
Qoorqoor, once seen as one of Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s closest regional allies, has faced growing pressure from Villa Somalia in recent months as the ruling party prepares for a new electoral cycle.
Federal officials believe a negotiated transition would allow Galmudug to avoid deeper turbulence, following months of political tension in South West State and accusations of federal interference there.
Barre’s office presented the Dhusamareb visit in conciliatory language, saying it would focus on national development, reconciliation and unity.
“This visit provides an important opportunity to engage with elders, community leaders, women, youth, and other stakeholders on our shared aspirations for national development, reconciliation, and prosperity,” the prime minister said.
“Together, we will continue advancing the state-building gains we have achieved and strengthen the bonds that unite us as one nation.”
