Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has visited the southern part of Gaalkayo, the capital of Mudug region, as authorities in Puntland prevented him from travelling to other parts of the divided city.
President Mohamud arrived in Gaalkayo on Monday with a large delegation and was received by officials from the Galmudug administration, representatives of Mudug regional authorities and members of the local community.
The president addressed residents from different sections of southern Gaalkayo at the Abdullahi Issa Stadium, speaking to community members gathered for his visit.
Gaalkayo is divided between the semi-autonomous administrations of Galmudug and Puntland, with Galmudug controlling the southern part of the city and Puntland administering the north.
Puntland authorities, which control northern Gaalkayo, rejected a visit by President Mohamud to their part of the city.
The development comes after fighting recently broke out in Gaalkayo between Puntland security forces and forces supporting Somalia’s federal government, according to the report.
The president’s visit highlights the continuing political and security tensions between Somalia’s federal government and Puntland, which has had strained relations with Mogadishu over political and constitutional issues.
