Galmudug leader rushes to Mogadishu, briefs US embassy about weapons looted in central Somalia 

Somalia

MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – President Qoorqoor of Galmudug made an urgent visit to Mogadishu to brief officials at the US Embassy on a significant arms loot in central Somalia. The incident, which occurred near Abudwaq town on Monday, saw clan militias ambush a convoy transporting a cache of weapons, resulting in a deadly clash that claimed nearly 20 lives, Caasimada Online news website reported on Wednesday. 

The regional president disclosed critical information to the US embassy regarding the origins of recently seized weapons in Abudwaq. The cache, seized by clan militias, was traced back to smugglers who had allegedly purchased it to bolster support for a presidential candidate challenging the incumbent in the upcoming Galmudug election. This revelation not only underscores the high stakes of the impending vote but also signals a complex interplay of power and influence within Galmudug’s political landscape. 

Videos circulating on social media depict men and women parading Chinese-made AK rifles and pistols in Abudwaq town, raising concerns among analysts that this display could escalate clan hostilities. The region has already been volatile, and fears are mounting that these weapons could exacerbate tensions and potentially fall into the hands of Al-Shabaab. Al-Shabaab has been conducting an insurgency against the Somali government and its African Union supporters for over a decade, posing a significant security threat in the region. The proliferation of firearms in such a context heightens worries about further destabilization and violence. 

Somalia’s government has sought to mitigate the fallout following revelations that the weapons valued at $5 million, purportedly intended for other uses, were allegedly acquired by weapons smugglers linked to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. Critics view this maneuver as an attempt to salvage the government’s reputation. Media reports suggest the weapons were bought from Ethiopia with the aim of bolstering a presidential candidate in Galmudug, supported by Villa Somalia, in a bid to assert control over the region.