Armed Political Rivalries Explode into Violence in Abudwaq as Residents Reject Hassan Sheikh-Backed Candidate

Abudwaq, Galgaduud(WDN) – A growing political confrontation in Galmudug turned violent Tuesday night when armed clashes erupted in Abudwaq between supporters of politician Libaan Shuluq and forces aligned with the Galmudug administration, exposing the dangerous consequences of increasingly militarized political competition in Somalia’s federal states.

According to local sources, the fighting broke out after security forces reportedly intervened to stop a political gathering organized in support of Libaan Shuluq, a figure widely viewed by residents as representing the political camp of former President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

The incident marks a dramatic escalation of tensions that have been building in Abudwaq for weeks, transforming political disagreements into armed confrontation and raising fears that Galmudug could be heading toward a deeper crisis ahead of future electoral contests.

“We Will Not Be Treated Like Baidoa”What makes the situation particularly significant is that Abudwaq residents had already staged large demonstrations rejecting Shuluq’s candidacy before the outbreak of violence. In recent days, hundreds of residents—many of them armed—gathered in the district to voice opposition to what they described as an attempt to impose a candidate associated with Hassan Sheikh’s political network on the people of Galmudug.