Editorial: Hassan Sheikh and a System of Government Confined to Select Regions

Former Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud confined Somalia’s system of government during his time in office to regions inhabited by the communities on which he politically depended. Meanwhile, other federal member states faced political disruption and attacks carried out using Somali national resources and international assistance intended to support the country’s recovery.

Hassan Sheikh was elected to office for a second time on May 15, 2022, and formally assumed the presidency on May 23. From that point onward, most of his domestic visits repeatedly took him to Galmudug, Hiiraan and the Shabelle regions.

On June 2, 2022, his second domestic trip took him to Dhusamareb after he had spent two days in Baidoa.

On November 24, 2022, he visited Nur Dugle in Middle Shabelle. His itinerary during that period also included Masaajid Ali Guduud and other locations.

In 2023, Hassan Sheikh spent an extended period in Dhusamareb, from where he directed military operations. On September 3, 2023, he travelled from Dhusamareb to the town of Mahaas in the Hiiraan region.

On April 1, 2024, he visited Harardhere and El Dheer in Galmudug.

On March 18, 2025, he travelled to Adan Yabal. Two days later, on March 20, he returned to the front lines in Middle Shabelle. In March 2026, he also visited the Lower Shabelle region.

Observers of Hassan Sheikh’s politics have described these repeated visits as an effort to present himself to the public as the president of those particular regions, rather than as a leader representing every part of Somalia and all federal member states equally. They argue that his conduct continued to reflect the politics and divisions inherited from the civil war.

The Role of the Prime Minister

Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, whose government has exceeded its mandate, entered office through Somalia’s 4.5 clan-based power-sharing arrangement. Under that formula, he occupies the position allocated to the Darood communities.

During his time in office, however, the prime minister played a significant role in the instability affecting the administrations inhabited by the communities he represents under the 4.5 arrangement. He has been described as a politician serving the political vision of Hassan Sheikh’s camp, whose objective is to establish a system in Somalia dominated by one person.

Political analysts argue that the electoral model sought by this group resembles systems adopted in some neighbouring countries: one ruling party presides over tightly controlled elections whose outcomes are decided in advance.

Why Has the Galmudug Visit Come at This Moment?

On August 14, 2026, Hassan Sheikh made another visit to Dhusamareb. The trip came after the failure of Villa Somalia’s plan to create political turmoil and insecurity inside Puntland.

Political observers described the journey as an attempt by Hassan Sheikh to conceal the setbacks suffered by the plan to undermine Puntland.

On August 17, his tour passed through Xananbuure, Godinlabe, Cadaado and Galinsoor as he continued towards southern Galkayo.

The visit was confined to areas inhabited by Habar Gidir communities, which constitute the largest population group in Galmudug and have frequently been described as Hassan Sheikh’s political base since his return to office. His tour did not reach most of the areas inhabited by Darood communities within Galmudug.

Peace in Mudug and the Final Card

The closely related communities living across the Mudug region—particularly on the Galmudug and Puntland sides of Galkayo—have enjoyed peace for a considerable period. In recent years, politicians from both sides have invested substantial effort in ending the intercommunal conflicts that previously affected the region.

Some political analysts, however, believe that Hassan Sheikh is playing his final card and using this visit to revive conflict among the communities that share the Mudug region.

Such conflicts occurred during Hassan Sheikh’s earlier period in office. In recent years, considerable work has gone into ending them. Former Galmudug President Ahmed Abdi Kariye Qoorqoor played a major role in those efforts, preserving peace in Mudug and supporting coexistence among the communities of Galkayo throughout his presidency.

Qoorqoor was removed from office through an electoral process that lacked political consensus. It was part of the system Hassan Sheikh seeks to impose on the country—one-party rule resembling the Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party during the period of dictatorship.

Qoorqoor was replaced by Liban Shuluq, who was appointed by Hassan Sheikh’s party to lead Galmudug. The central question now is whether Shuluq can preserve the peace in Galkayo and the wider Mudug region that Qoorqoor worked to maintain while in office.

Liban Shuluq comes from one of the communities inhabiting Mudug, particularly Galkayo. Critics also allege that he managed revenue channelled to the former Somali president from miraa khat imported from Kenya.

Will Liban Shuluq become a leader committed to security, peace and coexistence among the communities of Mudug? Or will he operate according to the system and political agenda of Hassan Sheikh’s camp after assuming office from Qoorqoor?

The Questions That Remain

Why were Hassan Sheikh’s visits confined to regions inhabited by communities that supported his politics?

Why did his tour fail to reach all the areas inhabited by Galmudug’s other communities?

Why did the visit to southern Galkayo come after the failure of the plan to destabilise Puntland?

Was this a visit intended to promote peace and government engagement, or was it a political message directed at Puntland?

At a time when he remains in office beyond his mandate, does Hassan Sheikh intend to strengthen peace among the closely related communities of Mudug, or is he reopening the wounds of earlier conflicts?

Will Liban Shuluq preserve peace and coexistence in Galkayo after taking office from Qoorqoor?

Will he become a leader who works for the security and stability of the communities sharing Mudug, or will he govern Galmudug according to the system and plans of Hassan Sheikh’s group?

Ultimately, during his time in office, did former Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud see himself as a national leader representing the country’s people and regions equally? Or was his system of government confined to particular regions and communities?

GAROWE ONLINE