Galmudug Candidate Pledges to Defeat Al-Shabaab and Heal Divisions in Six Months

DHUSAMAREB – Thousands of supporters lined the streets of Dhusamareb on Saturday to welcome Galmudug presidential hopeful Liibaan Ahmed Hassan (Liban Shuluq) in a show of political strength ahead of the state’s highly anticipated elections. The JSP candidate was received at the airport by a large delegation of federal and regional officials and hundreds of residents from across the Mudug and Galgaduud regions.

The reception was led by the Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Abdirahman Yusuf Al-Cadaala, who heads the candidate’s campaign team. Al-Cadaala, addressing the crowd, thanked the people of Galmudug for their support and their commitment to the upcoming democratic process. The delegation also included JSP Secretary-General Hussein Sheikh Mohamud, members of parliament, ministers, and other regional leaders.

A Campaign Built on Security and Reconciliation

Addressing the crowd, Hassan outlined a three-point agenda he pledged to prioritise if elected. The first was security, committing to rid Galmudug of Al-Shabaab militants within six months. “I will ensure Galmudug is free from Khawaarij,” he declared, as the crowd cheered. Second, he promised to spearhead community reconciliation efforts to heal clan divisions that have long plagued the region. Third, he pledged to deliver rapid development and inclusive governance.

Hassan, a politician commonly known as Liban Shuluq, has received the exclusive backing of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. The federal government has designated him as the sole candidate to represent the ruling Justice and Solidarity Party (JSP), effectively clearing the field of internal challengers. His nomination was formally announced at the party’s Mogadishu headquarters, where he was presented with the party’s certificate of candidacy.

A Region at a Crossroads

The enthusiastic welcome in Dhusamareb reflects the high stakes of the upcoming election. Galmudug is set to hold its presidential vote on July 20, 2026, with 215,860 individuals enrolled and issued voting cards across the Galgaduud and Mudug regions. The election marks a significant transition for the central state, which is moving from a clan-based system toward a competitive multiparty democracy.

However, the campaign has been marked by deep political tensions. The JSP’s efforts to expand its presence in Galmudug have faced resistance in the past. A bitter disagreement between President Mohamud and his intelligence chief over who should lead the state created a dangerous political rift that threatened to destabilise the region. Galmudug President Ahmed Abdi Kariye (Qoor-Qoor), who was also a member of the JSP, was pressured to withdraw from the race and will not seek another term.

A Campaign Built on Federal Endorsement, Not Grassroots Consensus

Hassan’s entry into the race as the sole JSP candidate is less a product of internal party democracy than of federal decree. President Mohamud publicly endorsed him, effectively foreclosing any possibility of a contested primary. The party’s leadership, including Secretary-General Hussein Sheikh Mohamud, has rallied around him with what appears to be coordinated federal support.

While the JSP describes this as a unified front, critics view it as Mogadishu imposing its will on the region. “This is not a free and fair election, it’s a coronation,” one local analyst told FTL. The candidate’s lack of an independent political base has left many voters uncertain about his ability to govern without the federal government’s constant oversight.

The ceremony, therefore, was not just a display of support for a candidate, but also a show of force by the federal government’s preferred faction. The presence of hundreds of residents from across the region suggests that the JSP is building a formidable grassroots machine, but it also underscores the winner-takes-all nature of a contest that has already exposed deep fractures in the region’s political landscape.

Way Forward

With the election just days away, the Galmudug campaign is entering its final, most intense phase. Hassan’s pledge to eradicate Al-Shabaab and heal clan divisions is ambitious, and its success will depend on more than just political will. The international community and federal government will be watching closely to ensure that the vote is free, fair, and peaceful. However, the federal government’s heavy-handed role in shaping the outcome has raised concerns about the legitimacy of the process. For the people of Galmudug, the election represents a critical opportunity to shape their own future, but the deep political divisions and allegations of outside interference that have marked the campaign serve as a reminder of the challenges that lie ahead.