Region
Galmudug State of Somalia: Dhuusamarreeb (Dhusamareb), history and leaders
Galmudug is the central member state covering Galgaduud and southern Mudug, with Dhuusamarreeb as its capital. The current state was formed through a conference that opened in Cadaado in April 2015. Liban Ahmed Hassan was elected its leader on 22 October 2026, and the state works with the federal government.
How it began
An earlier Galmudug administration was set up in the 2000s with Gaalkacyo as its capital, under its first president Mohamed Warsame Ali "Kiimiko". The present state grew from a federal process. On 16 April 2015 President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud opened the central state formation conference in Cadaado, and the state's flag was adopted there on 17 June 2015 (Galmudug). The 2012 constitution allows two or more regions to join as a member state, and Galmudug joined Galgaduud with the southern part of Mudug (Heritage Institute).
Land and people
The capital is Dhuusamarreeb. The state has 10 districts and about 1.3 million people (2014 estimate). Hobyo, on the coast, has a small port that is growing (Galmudug). Gaalkacyo is split between Galmudug in the south and Puntland in the north. Several clans live here, and smaller clans report being left out (Heritage Institute, Nov 2025). No clan owns the state.
Leaders
Abdi Hasan Awale "Qaybdiid" was elected in August 2012. Ahmed Abdi Kariye "Qoorqoor" became president in February 2020 (Galmudug). Liban Ahmed Hassan was elected on 22 October 2026 and pledged to serve all residents (Dawan Africa).
Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama'a
The Sufi movement Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama'a was active in central Somalia from 1991 to 2018 and took part in the 2014 central regions agreement that led to the state (Galmudug).
Communities against al-Shabaab
Since 2022 local defence groups known as Macawiisley have fought al-Shabaab in central Somalia, with federal support, and fighting reached El Buur district in 2025 (Hiiraan Online).
Where this state fits
Article 1 of the 2012 provisional constitution says "Somalia is a federal state". The idea runs through every major peace text from Cairo in 1997 onward, and the 2004 Mbagathi conference adopted it (Heritage Institute). Two or more regions may join to form a member state. Each state has its own leader, parliament and constitution, and works with the federal government in Mogadishu. See the overview page on how the federal system works.
Sources
- Galmudug · en.wikipedia.org
- Heritage Institute · heritageinstitute.org
- Heritage Institute, Nov 2025 · heritageinstitute.org
- Dawan Africa · dawan.africa
- Hiiraan Online · hiiraan.com
Gathered in our research record “Somalia's political landscape, 2012 to 2026”. Wikipedia is used only as a backup.
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Where this matters
- Gaalkacyo (Galkayo) and MudugMudug is a region of central Somalia with about 1.5 million people, split between Puntland in the north and Galmudug in the south.
- Dhuusamarreeb (Dhusamareb) and GalgaduudGalgaduud is a region of central Somalia in Galmudug State, with Dhusamareb (Dhuusamarreeb) as its capital and about 845,000 people.
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