GAALKAYO, Somalia (HornPost) Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has continued a multi-day tour of Galmudug, visiting towns across the central Somali state as he seeks to engage local communities on security, development and national unity.
The president’s tour, which began in Dhusamareeb on August 15, has taken him through Xananbuure, Cadaado, Galinsoor, Bandiiradleey and Gaalkayo, where he has met residents and local officials and emphasized peace, reconciliation and support for Somalia’s federal institutions.
The visit comes at a politically sensitive moment, particularly around Gaalkayo, a divided city administratively shared between Galmudug and Puntland. Recent tensions between the Federal Government and Puntland have added a political dimension to the president’s movement through the region. Puntland had placed its security forces on alert amid reports that Hassan Sheikh planned to visit Gaalkayo.
Thousands of Soldiers Graduate in Galgaduud
During the tour, President Hassan Sheikh, who is also Commander-in-Chief of Somalia’s armed forces, presided over the graduation of thousands of Somali National Army recruits at Xananbuure.
The recruits had undergone nearly a year of basic military training and were drawn from different regions of Somalia.
According to the presidency, the graduation represents one of the largest groups of soldiers to complete this level of training inside Somalia since the collapse of the central government.
The recruits received instruction in military skills, discipline, military law, combat tactics and other areas required for national service.
President Hassan Sheikh described the graduation as a sign of the recovery of Somalia’s state institutions and the rebuilding of a national army capable of assuming greater responsibility for the country’s security.
He urged the soldiers to uphold military discipline, protect Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and carry out their duties with patriotism and responsibility.
President Calls for Support Against Al-Shabaab
In Cadaado, President Hassan Sheikh praised residents for maintaining peace and supporting government institutions.
He called on the population to participate in what he described as the final phase of efforts to eliminate Al-Shabaab, while urging communities to support Somali forces fighting the militant group.
The president has made the expansion of state security and the rebuilding of the national armed forces central themes of his administration.
From Galinsoor to Bandiiradleey
The presidential delegation later travelled to Galinsoor, where hundreds of residents welcomed the president.
Hassan Sheikh urged residents to prioritize peace, stability and coexistence, emphasizing the importance of Galinsoor remaining a peaceful community for people from different parts of Somalia.
In Bandiiradleey, in Mudug region, the president received another public welcome as part of what Villa Somalia has described as a peace and community outreach tour.
He thanked residents for their reception and emphasized the importance of social cohesion, security and local development.
Gaalkayo Visit Carries Political Significance
The president’s arrival in Gaalkayo is arguably the most politically significant stage of the tour.
The city sits on the administrative boundary between Galmudug and Puntland, making presidential movements there particularly sensitive.
Thousands of residents gathered at the Abdullahi Issa Stadium to welcome Hassan Sheikh. The president praised the people of Gaalkayo for maintaining unity and called on them to strengthen peace, reconciliation and support for Somalia’s state institutions.
He described Gaalkayo as a city that connects Somali communities and urged residents to overcome divisions.
The visit, however, comes against the backdrop of increasingly strained relations between Mogadishu and Puntland. Puntland has been at odds with the Federal Government over constitutional changes, elections and the broader direction of Somalia’s federal system. Puntland’s recent decision to place security forces on alert ahead of the reported presidential visit underlined the sensitivity surrounding the trip.
Development Projects in Dhusamareeb
Before beginning the wider regional tour, President Hassan Sheikh and Galmudug President Ahmed Abdi Kariye “Qoor Qoor” inaugurated development projects in Dhusamareeb, including the first phase of an urban road construction project and the Green Monument.
The president praised the Galmudug administration for implementing the projects and highlighted their potential contribution to urban infrastructure, transportation and economic activity.
He also acknowledged the role of the World Bank and Somalia’s Ministry of Public Works in planning, financing and implementing the projects.
Analysis: Security, State-Building and Political Messaging
President Hassan Sheikh’s Galmudug tour carries significance beyond its public engagements.
First, the graduation of thousands of soldiers at Xananbuure provides the federal government with an opportunity to demonstrate that Somalia is building a national security force inside the country rather than relying predominantly on external security partners.
Second, the president’s repeated emphasis on peace, unity and support for federal institutions appears designed to strengthen his political message at a time when relations between Mogadishu and some federal member states remain strained.
Third, the decision to travel through areas extending toward Gaalkayo places the president physically closer to Puntland at a moment when political tensions are already high.
The city has historically been one of Somalia’s most sensitive political and security flashpoints, particularly because of its division between Puntland and Galmudug.
The contrast between the large public receptions reported in Galmudug and the heightened security concerns in Puntland highlights the broader political challenge facing Somalia: building a functioning federal system while resolving disputes between the central government and federal member states.
For Hassan Sheikh, the tour therefore serves three purposes simultaneously: engaging communities, demonstrating progress in state-building and security, and reinforcing Mogadishu’s claim to national political leadership.
For Puntland, however, the president’s movement toward Gaalkayo comes at a time of heightened disagreement with the Federal Government, making continued dialogue and political de-escalation increasingly important to prevent local political disputes from developing into broader security tensions.
Prepared by:
HornPost Staff
