Former Galmudug President Ahmed Abdi Kariye (Qoor Qoor) has formally handed over power to newly elected leader Liban Ahmed Hassan in a peaceful transition in Dhusamareb, urging residents to support the new administration.
The handover ceremony took place on Wednesday at the presidential palace in Dhusamareb, where Qoor Qoor transferred official offices, government facilities and administrative files to Hassan, who was recently elected as the new president of Galmudug.
Addressing the ceremony, Qoor Qoor said he was leaving behind a politically and socially united state, describing the peaceful transfer of power as an important achievement of his administration.
"I have handed over a Galmudug that is politically united, with no area having political grievances today. I have handed over a Galmudug that is socially and economically united," he said.
Qoor Qoor also briefed the incoming administration on development projects completed during his tenure and those still under construction, including the expansion and development of Dhusamareb airport and major road infrastructure in the regional capital.
He urged residents of Galmudug, both inside Somalia and abroad, to support the new leadership and work with the incoming administration to maintain stability and advance development.
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"I want to call on the people of Galmudug, wherever they are, to support the new government led by President Liban Ahmed Hassan and cooperate fully with it," he said.
Hassan's election marks the beginning of a new administration in Galmudug, a state that has faced political disagreements and security challenges in recent years.
The peaceful handover stands in contrast to developments in other Somali federal member states, where disputes over political leadership and electoral processes have contributed to tensions and, in some cases, armed confrontations.
In South West State, disagreements over the regional leadership have escalated into a political and security crisis, while Hirshabelle has also experienced disputes involving its political leadership and federal government-backed initiatives.
The transition in Galmudug could therefore carry broader political significance as Somalia continues to grapple with disagreements between federal and regional authorities over governance, elections and the distribution of political power.
Qoor Qoor's departure brings to a close his tenure as president of Galmudug, with the former leader calling on the population to give his successor the cooperation needed to continue the state's political and development agenda.
About the Author
Ahmed Omar is a senior journalist for Somali Report, based in Mogadishu. He has two decades of experience reporting on Somalia for international and local media. He covers politics, security, governance, business, trade, economic developments and regional affairs.
