Turjumaad ayaa la diyaarinayaa

DHUUSAMAREEB, Somalia — Political tensions are mounting in Somalia’s central state of Galmudug amid growing disagreements over the handling of the upcoming regional presidential election, according to local sources and officials familiar with the discussions.

Reports emerging from Dhuusamareeb, the capital of Galmudug, indicate that Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is backing Libaan Ahmed Hassan as the preferred candidate for the Galmudug presidency under the ruling Justice and Solidarity Party (JSP).

The move has reportedly sparked resistance from Mahad Salad, a longtime ally of the Somali president, who is also seeking to become the government-backed candidate in the race.

Sources close to Mahad Salad say he favors either an open and competitive election or a “one person, one vote” process that would allow broader political participation. The same sources said he believes dialogue should be prioritized to avoid potential conflict over the electoral dispute.