Galkayo (WDN) — Somalia’s Future Council Opposition, has launched a sharp attack on President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, accusing him of exceeding the country’s constitutional and legal boundaries and warning residents of Galkayo against allowing political disputes in Mogadishu to threaten the city’s fragile peace.
Mohamed Adan (Koofi), a member of the Future Council described Hassan Sheikh as a former president facing serious allegations, including inciting civil conflict, abuse of power, treason, and the unlawful appropriation of public and private property.
Koofi’s remarks came as political tensions between the Federal Government and opposition groups continue to deepen, with Galkayo once again emerging as a sensitive political and security flashpoint. “Hassan Sheikh is a former president facing serious allegations, including inciting civil conflict, treason, abuse of power, and the seizure of public and private property,” Koofi said.
He further accused Hassan Sheikh of violating the country’s legal framework and remaining in Villa Somalia without a legitimate constitutional basis.
Warning to Galkayo: Protect the Peace
Addressing residents on both sides of Galkayo, Koofi urged the communities of Puntland and Galmudug to place their shared interests above political rivalries originating elsewhere.
Using the Somali proverb “Oodi Ab ka dhow”—a warning that those closest to you deserve particular protection—Koofi argued that the foundation of Galkayo’s stability is the determination of its own residents to preserve peace.
He said Galkayo’s unique history and geographic position make it fundamentally different from many other Somali cities and require its residents to exercise particular caution whenever political tensions rise.
According to Koofi, the people of Galkayo have endured enough conflict and should not allow outside political actors to exploit divisions between the two sides of the city.
Koofi specifically warned residents against what he described as political interests being brought into Galkayo from outside. He argued that the communities on both sides of the city are neighbors with shared interests, economic ties, family relationships and a common future.
“The people of Galkayo are neighbors, they share the same interests and they will remain connected. They should not allow outsiders to bring political agendas that could undermine their peace,” he said.
His comments amount to a direct warning that Galkayo should not become another arena for Somalia’s increasingly bitter confrontation between the Federal Government and its political opponents.
Koofi’s attack also reflects the broader opposition argument that President Hassan Sheikh has moved beyond the limits of constitutional governance.
Opposition leaders have repeatedly challenged the legitimacy of the Federal Government’s actions on elections, constitutional amendments and relations with Federal Member States, arguing that political authority must remain subject to constitutional limits rather than the preferences of the executive.
The government, however, has consistently defended its constitutional position and rejected accusations that it is operating outside the law.
The competing claims have contributed to one of Somalia’s most serious political confrontations in years, with Puntland and Jubaland maintaining deeply strained relations with Mogadishu.
Galkayo Caught Between Two Political Worlds
The significance of Koofi’s warning lies largely in the location to which it was directed. Galkayo is physically one city but administratively divided between Puntland and Galmudug. Despite years of conflict, residents on both sides have developed extensive commercial, social and family ties.
That interconnectedness has also made the city particularly vulnerable to political manipulation.
Any escalation between federal and regional authorities could quickly acquire a local dimension, potentially undermining years of work to maintain coexistence between the two communities.
Koofi therefore urged Galkayo residents to remain vigilant and reject political agendas that could jeopardize the peace they have painstakingly built. His message was ultimately less about the rivalry between Hassan Sheikh and the opposition than about who should bear the consequences of Somalia’s political disputes.
For Koofi, the answer is clear: politicians may disagree in Mogadishu, but the people of Galkayo should not be asked to pay the price.
WardheerNews