Galmudug Rejects Puntland Leader’s Visit to Dhinawda, Warns Against Territorial Encroachment

DHUSAMAREEB — The Galmudug administration has issued a strongly worded response to Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni’s visit to the Dhinawda area of the Mudug region, asserting that the territory falls under its jurisdiction and warning against any attempts to undermine its authority .

Second Deputy Speaker of the Galmudug Parliament, Fadumo Abdi Ali (Faadumo Faandhe), held a press conference in Dhusamareb, rejecting Deni’s visit and insisting that Dhinawda is an integral part of Galmudug. “There is no doubt, no question—Dhinawda belongs to Galmudug, and the seats we occupy are proof of that,” she said .

Deni had described his visit as part of Puntland’s efforts to monitor living conditions and strengthen peace, adding that Garowe would host a peace conference to promote stability and community cohesion in the Towfiiq and Dhinawda areas of Mudug . Faandhe responded: “If you want to promote peace, you should work through the Galmudug administration. President Deni, we want to tell you that if he wants to reconcile the two communities, he must go through the Galmudug administration.”

Federal MP Abdirahman Cagaweyne, who represents Galmudug in the House of the People, also condemned Deni’s visit, accusing him of fueling conflict in eastern Mudug. “Somali saying goes: ‘Only the camel that has burned in the herd knows what to tell the others.’ Saacidow, you are fanning the flames of conflict in the region, and we warn you to stop,” Cagaweyne wrote on social media . He urged Deni to address humanitarian issues in Puntland’s own Kulub and Garacad areas, which have been affected by climate change, rather than interfering in Galmudug .

Escalating Federal-State Tensions

The Dhinawda dispute is the latest flashpoint in the growing rift between Puntland and the Federal Government, with tensions escalating in the Mudug region . Puntland has placed its defence forces on high alert and warned against President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s planned visit to Galkayo, accusing him of plotting to destabilise the city . Puntland has described Mohamud as a “former president” whose term expired on May 15, 2026, a claim the Federal Government rejects.

Deadly clashes erupted in Gaalkacyo in August 2026 when Puntland forces attacked PSF positions, with the violence following a weapons shipment that Puntland said the Federal Government had airlifted into the city’s southern sector. Puntland forces subsequently seized control of military camps in the area .

Puntland has accused the Federal Government of arming militias and smuggling weapons to destabilise the region, issuing a formal warning to Galmudug State not to allow its airports and territory to be used for the transit of military supplies intended to harm Puntland’s communities .

Puntland security forces intercepted a vehicle carrying 250 military uniforms in Galkayo in July 2026, arresting the driver and intensifying a crackdown on what authorities described as efforts to destabilize the region amid escalating tensions with the Federal Government and Galmudug administration .

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud visited Galkayo in August 2026, marking his first visit to the city in nearly 20 years, calling for strengthened peace and unity. The visit was met with warnings from Puntland, which had placed its forces on high alert . Puntland President Deni was also in Galkayo at the same time, holding meetings with community leaders and launching development projects .

Calls for Dialogue and Mediation

The Puntland Political Council has called for a negotiated resolution to the escalating tensions, warning that any effort to disarm federal-aligned forces without broad community consensus could lead to further conflict and instability. The council urged the administration to engage traditional elders and community leaders in finding a peaceful solution to the crisis .

Presidents Deni and Qoorqoor jointly inaugurated the Mudug Region Peace Promotion Conference in Galkayo in 2024, aiming to foster peace and strengthen relations between the two states. The conference highlighted the long-standing efforts to address ongoing conflicts in the region .

Critical Note

The Dhinawda dispute underscores the fragility of Somalia’s federal arrangements and the deep mistrust between Puntland and Galmudug, both of which are critical players in the broader federal-state tensions. The visit by President Deni to a contested area, following the federal government’s involvement in Galkayo, has inflamed an already volatile situation. While the Galmudug administration’s rejection of the visit is rooted in its territorial claims, the lack of clear demarcation between regional states has created a dangerous ambiguity that could easily escalate into armed confrontation.

The missed opportunity for dialogue between President Mohamud and President Deni in Galkayo in August 2026 is a stark illustration of the breakdown in communication between Mogadishu and Garowe . Both leaders were in the divided city at the same time, Mohamud in the Galmudug-controlled southern sector and Deni in the Puntland-controlled northern sector, yet they did not meet . This failure to engage directly, despite being in such close proximity, highlights the depth of the political rift and the unwillingness of either side to take the first step toward de-escalation . The presence of both presidents in Galkayo at the same time could have provided an opportunity for dialogue, but the opportunity was lost, and the tensions continued to simmer