​Somalia: Leaders of Puntland, Galmudug announce commitment to ceasefire agreement in Mogadishu

MOGADISHU, Somalia- Presidents of Somalia's regional states of Puntland and Galmudug interim administration have signed a peace agreement in the Somali capital of Mogadishu on Sunday, Garowe Online reports. 

The deal was aimed to end fighting and tensions in the divided city of Galkayo since last year.

The agreement was reached with the presence of caretaker President Hasan Shaikh Mahmoud, caretaker Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke and UN envoy to Somalia Michael Keating along with Puntland and Galmudug leaders.

The agreement included forming joint Police forces from both regions to oversee conflict areas, allow movement of residents and vehicles between regions, return back displaced residents to the city and hold further talks on February.

The neighboring regions have fought previously in several occasions over disputed areas in Mudug region that resulted in the death of many civilians and displacement of residents.

However, peace deals were brokered several times between the warring administrations but collapsed due to recurrent fighting in Galkayo city. 

Officials from Mudug region and Puntland government were blamed for fueling the tensions in Galkayo, as they failed in the past to refrain from actions that escalated the conflict in last year.

GAROWEONLINE