PUNTLAND AND GALMUDUG CONDUCT A JOINT SECURITY OPERATION IN GALKA’YO

[Deeq A.]

Galka’yo (PP News Desk ) —  Galka’yo, an administratively divided district, is taking steps towards forming a joint security force to fight Al-shabaab, the terrorist organisation behind the recent spate of assassinations in North Galka’yo under the jurisdiction of Puntland State.

A joint security operation conducted by Puntland  and Galmudug security forces in cooperation with a unit from the Somali National Army division this week saw the arrest of people suspected of supporting Al-shabaab.

Galmudug Security Minister Ahmed Fiqi, a former intelligence director, has held meetings with North Galka’yo authorities. Out of the meetings emerged a common counterterrorism strategy for the beleaguered administrative capital of Mudug. Last month, Al-shabaab assassinated the former Puntland-appointed governor of Mudug.

Galka’yo has been a divided city since 1993, when General Mohammed Farah Aideed and Colonel Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed signed a peace agreement in Mogadishu. The agreement stipulated the division of Galka’yo into South (under United Somali Congress) and North (under Somali Salvation Democratic Front). Puntland leaders had honoured the agreement when a Garowe-based autonomous administration came into existence in 1998.

The renewed security collaboration between Galmudug  and Puntland builds on past security arrangements to deter terrorist elements that exploited distrust between North and South Galka’yo.

Galka’yo residents have welcomed joint security operations by the two federal member states.

© Puntland Post, 2020

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