After months of stalemate, Galmadug's outgoing president hands over power to Qoor Qoor

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Galmadug ushered in new leadership Sunday after months of unprecedented standoff preceded by pre-election chaos and subsequent election boycott, which threatened to disintegrate gains made by Somalia.

For three decades, Somalia has been fighting inter-clan conflicts and Al-Shabaab menace, derailing efforts to establish a functional government in the process, despite a series of intervention by the international partners.

In a ceremony attended by senior state officials, outgoing leader Ahmed Duale Gelle alias Haaf handed over to Ahmed Abdi Kariye alias Qoor Qoor, who will now be mandated to steer the semi-autonomous state.

During the short ceremony at Dhusamareb, Gelle insisted on the need for "mutual cooperation" among all stakeholders, adding that "peace should drive our agenda all the time because that's what our people need".

The former leader added: "I will work closely with the new administration and possibly give advice whenever it's sought. The spirit of brotherhood supersedes our personal interests."

In January, Duale defiantly refused to handover power, arguing that the federal government has "handpicked" the winner against "the wishes of my people". Also, he insisted that his term was due in 2021, citing a delay in constituting his administration.

Qoor Qoor, a former federal government minister and a bureaucrat with Mogadishu administration, inherits a hugely divided region, which witnessed deadly violence in February when Somali National Army [SNA] clashed with moderate Sufi group ASWJ.

In his speech, Qoor Qoor admitted that "we are in trying moments" in reference to the divisions, adding that "I am ready to work with right minded individuals to restore dignity to the people of Galmadug state".

He said: "Elections come and go but our people remain. Let's work together for the sake of stability for our state. I'll be working closely with all partners and stakeholders, this is for the future of young generations."

After months of the political quagmire, Duale walked to Dhusamareb last week where he was hosted by several leaders including Qoor Qoor at a high-end hotel. Their talks lasted for several hours before they addressed the media.

In his speech, he insisted that most things he wanted addressing had been "convincingly" handled by the authorities, adding that "I have no reasons whatsoever not to execute my constitutional obligations of handing over".

Four candidates boycotted the January polls, which the opposition termed "fraudulent" in the protest to America's congratulatory message to the winner, Ahmed Kariye, a state-sponsored candidate.

President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo had been accused of interfering with the polls by "imposing" his loyalists with an aim of "rigging" the much anticipated December polls, the opposition added.

Clashes between ASWJ militia and the SNA troops leftover 20 dead before a ceasefire was declared. Several militias surrendered to the government troops after which two top leaders were arrested. They have since been freed.

The US, through ambassador Donald Yamamoto, asked the federal government to "dialogue" with federal states. The negotiations, he added, "ought, to be honest, and transparent".

Farmajo has struggled to correlate well with state leaders, often raising suspicions that have partly hampered the ongoing preparation for polls. But in most instances, he has often denied any wrongdoing.

Jubaland and Puntland have been leading the onslaught against the president, whose regime has often been dismissed as "divisive and autocratic" by his critics. However, Said Deni and Ahmed Madobe have embraced calls for constructive dialogue.

GAROWE ONLINE