Somalia president decrees close ally as sole candidate for Galmudug leadership
MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s federal government has selected a single candidate to run on behalf of the ruling Justice and Solidarity Party (JSP) for the presidency of the central Galmudug state, signaling a dramatic escalation of political maneuvering ahead of a highly contested regional ballot. Liban Ahmed Hassan, a prominent political figure widely known as […]
Black News 
MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s federal government has selected a single candidate to run on behalf of the ruling Justice and Solidarity Party (JSP) for the presidency of the central Galmudug state, signaling a dramatic escalation of political maneuvering ahead of a highly contested regional ballot.
Liban Ahmed Hassan, a prominent political figure widely known as Shuluq, secured the exclusive endorsement of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, effectively clearing the field of internal challengers for the vote scheduled for July 9.
The ruling party plans to formalize the nomination at a ceremony at its headquarters in the capital, Mogadishu. The move sidesteps standard competitive party processes or primary elections, drawing lines for a high-stakes showdown in the strategically vital central region.
Concurrently, intense backroom negotiations are underway in Mogadishu to resolve an internal party impasse over the deputy regional presidency. Multiple contenders are actively lobbying Mohamud for a similar exclusive endorsement, sparking a widening race for the second-highest regional office.
The intervention by the federal executive has brought it into direct collision with incumbent Galmudug President Ahmed Abdi Kariye, widely known as Qoorqoor. Relations between Mohamud and Qoorqoor have soured significantly in recent weeks, driven by a struggle for control over the regional electoral timeline and apparatus.
While the national electoral commission has slated local and parliamentary polls for June and July, political activity remains stagnant in the regional capital, Dhusamareb. Heavyweights in the territory are engineering strategic maneuvers to maximize their leverage.
The political dispute centers on Qoorqoor’s ambition to secure a second term in office, which runs counter to the federal government’s efforts to install Hassan as the new state leader. Federal authorities fear the incumbent could weaponize his local influence to undermine or delay the regional parliamentary and presidential elections.
The power struggle has also fractured local security forces. While federal authorities have successfully co-opted the majority of Galmudug’s regional police and intelligence apparatus, a formidable obstacle remains. The main military base in the region continues to pledge its loyalty to Qoorqoor, presenting a major security risk that complicates Mogadishu’s drive to reshape the regional leadership.
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