Galmudug Delivers Strong Response to Said Deni’s Visit to Dhinawda
Galmudug has strongly reacted to Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni’s visit to Dhinawda in Mudug region, insisting that the area falls under Galmudug administration.
Dhuusamareeb, Somali Report – The Galmudug administration has strongly reacted to Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni’s visit to Dhinawda in Mudug region, insisting that the area falls under Galmudug’s administrative control.
President Deni visited Dhinawda on Tuesday, where he received a warm welcome from local residents and conducted an inspection of the area. His visit has since triggered a strong political reaction from officials in Galmudug, who had previously warned against the Puntland president visiting the disputed area.
The Second Deputy Speaker of the Galmudug Parliament, Fadumo Abdi Ali, also known as Fadumo Faandhe, held a press conference in Dhuusamareeb and strongly criticized Deni’s visit.
She maintained that Dhinawda is part of Galmudug and argued that there is no uncertainty over the administration’s claim to the area.
“There is no question or doubt about it; Dhinawda belongs to Galmudug,” Faa
ndhe said, pointing to the political representation of the local population as part of her argument.
Faandhe also responded to President Deni’s explanation that his visit was aimed at assessing the living conditions of local communities and supporting peace efforts in the area.
Deni has said Puntland intends to organize a peace conference in Garowe aimed at strengthening peace, coexistence and social ties between communities in Towfiq and Dhinawda.
However, Galmudug officials say any peace initiative involving communities in the area should include the Galmudug administration.
“If the objective is to work for peace, those working for peace and the other sides must communicate with each other. We want to tell President Deni that if he wants to reconcile the two communities, he should work through the Galmudug administration,” Faandhe said.
Somali Report · Newsletter
Sign up to The Insider
Your morning briefing on Somalia's biggest stories — politics, security, business, and the people shaping the region's future.
Deni’s visit has also drawn criticism from Federal Parliamentarian Abdirahman Cagaweyne, who represents Galmudug.
Cagaweyne accused the Puntland president of contributing to tensions in eastern Mudug and urged him to stay away from actions that could aggravate existing disputes between local communities.
In a statement, the lawmaker also called on Deni to focus on communities within Puntland that are facing serious challenges, particularly those affected by climate change, including pastoralists and fishing communities in areas such as Kulub and Garacad.
The dispute comes amid longstanding political and administrative tensions between Puntland and Galmudug over parts of Mudug region.
Galmudug officials had previously warned against Deni’s visit to Dhinawda, but the Puntland president proceeded with the trip, further intensifying the political exchange between the two administrations.
The latest developments have raised concerns that the dispute could deepen existing tensions in eastern Mudug, particularly if political leaders from both sides continue to make competing claims over the area.
So far, there has been no indication of a direct dialogue between Puntland and Galmudug officials aimed at defusing the tensions triggered by the visit. Attention is now focused on the next steps by both administrations and whether the dispute will lead to further political confrontation or renewed efforts toward dialogue and reconciliation.
About the Author
Bashir Guhad is a reporter at Somali Report covering politics, security, business, and trade across the Somali region.