One region, that may reshape the security structure of Somalia

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One region, that may reshape the security structure of Somalia

BY - AHMED MOHAMMED

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Mudug region, specifically, borders from the north-east to the Nugal region of Puntland; to the west, the Somali-Ethiopian state region of Dollo; and to the south, Galgaduud of Galmudug, which afterwards is a pass-way to Hirshabelle.

BY - AHMED MOHAMMED

Mudug region, with Galkacyo its capital. A region is politically divided among the two regional federal member states of Puntland and Galmudug. It's the capital of the central region of Somalia. It plays a significant role in the trans-regional economy by connecting the north-eastern and north-western parts of the region to the southern and central regions.

The region, specifically, borders from the north-east to the Nugal region of Puntland; to the west, the Somali-Ethiopian state region of Dollo; and to the south, Galgaduud of Galmudug, which afterwards is a pass-way to Hirshabelle. Galkacyo is therefore the hub linking Somalia as a whole and the Somali-Ethiopian region.

It was an economic powerhouse that gave birth to most of the old Somali political leaderships of the past. It's the meeting point for all commodities traveling from north to south and vice versa in Somalia. It has become one of the earliest stable regional capitals of the country since the collapse of the former Seyad Barre’s military dictatorship regime.

It has survived all the wars and tribal conflicts that came as a consequence of the central governments fallout since the 21-year iron rule ended back in the 1990s, and this came after the two predominant regional clans of Darod and Hawia, especially Sa’ad of Habargidir/Hawia and Leilkase, Marehan, and Majerten of Darod sub clans, reached a peace accord led by the late former President of Somalia, Col. Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, and the late Gen. Mohamed Farah Aideed, at a re-conciliatory conference in Mogadishu that inked the current tribal co-existence of Galkacyo, which cultivated other tribes such as Shiekhal, Dir, and Madhiban to also co-exist peacefully with their prominent major clans.

All the more, that shaped the current stable and economically attractive context of Galkacyo and its two-state system of political authority and leadership. Each of the two states shares their part of governance and economic taxation from their part of control and therefore remains bonded in equally incorporating the security of the region, with one supporting the other in counter-terrorism operations against Alshabab in the region.

Puntland always stood up with Galmudug in countering Alshabab from their part, and so many resources were presented to keep Galmudug firm in fighting Alshabab and denying them the ability to infiltrate against the rest of the region, making both administrations forceful to rely on each other when it comes to security.

Although Galkacyo, over the years since Puntland took over, faced recurrent inter-clan clashes and armed conflicts, yet both sides refrained from any escalations with Puntland, being the inventor of creating the Galmudug administration, and lobbied for its initial establishment as a similar state to ensure responsible authority came to be and played its part in maintaining regional security and political order.

Sharing both ups and downs in security and politics helped finally build a mutually beneficial state of peaceful coexistence. while continuing to strengthen its policing and legal arbitration's of those trying to spoil the raising flower of Galkacyo and its people.

During the last two administrative leaderships of both Galmudug and Puntland, the city felt a period of redundant turmoil, with many attributed that scenario of being politically motivated as a means to an end of political show of power from the Federal government of Somalia against Puntland.

The potential booming local economy and diverse social integration of Galkacyo sought to attract so many IDP population from Southern and Central other parts of Somalia to come seeking economic opportunities and livelihood. Both sides of Galkacyo hosted lots of people.

In Puntland, those living under its authority merged with the host community and voted for their political representation in the recent local council elections based on 1P1V and had their members of the council elected. Two of them stood up among the competitive other members of the council who were representing from the 8 constitutionally approved political parties without being affiliated to any of the host subclans of the majority but being Jareerweyn and Digil/Mirifle of Bay & Bakool and Lower/Middle Shabelle regions administered by two other Federal member states of Southwest and Hirshabelle.

This proves the significance of maintaining peace, law and order which we hope will be transfer-ed to the rest of the region in the near future using this experience to educate the rest who have not gained the chance to witness such a remarkable democratic achievement of Puntland, Galmudug be the next down the road.

However, since President Deni and President Qoorqoor came to power, that period is long to be remembered by the people of Galkacyo and has become a thing of the past.

This fruitful situation came to fruition under the leadership of the former President of the FGS, Mr. Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo who helped with the creation and sponsorship of a mixed police force to cooperate in fighting against terrorism operations against regional politicians, businessmen, and civilians, coupled with the humanitarian activities of the region.

The mixed police task force, consisting of federally trained police units hailing from both sides of the city, kept armed conflicts and Alshabab infiltration's at bay, leading to the execution of so many Alshabab hit squads who used to hunt people across the capital district of the region and had often succeeded in igniting armed tribal wars under the behest of their own agenda, which endangered the peaceful and long-cultivated political stability of the region.

On the other hand, a US-sponsored counter-terrorism force was present as well and contributed a lot in their part and promoted their share of this balance; hence, their contribution ended after the US under Trump leadership withdrawn support of the former PSF personnel, leaving a small unit under Danab in Mogadishu to remain in camp for the use of security escorts in times of regional-wide offensives against the terrorist group, like the recent liberation efforts of the Mudug and Galgaduud regions controlled by Galmudug.

Yet, shorted PSF's former capacity to partake in the regionally shared security task force, putting all hands on deck on the mixed police task force locally known as "Ciidanka Isku Dhafka," who are limited in number and less equipped to both training and material capacity for the ever-growing and expanding city of both population and economy.

This region is the one and only in Somalia to ever build a deep water container terminal port under the finance of the local people and businessmen, thus enhancing their economic growth and regional commercial connectivity while showing how effective and serious the people of this marvelous city are to ensure their future and all the other factors necessary to keep their peaceful co-existence.