Galmudug

Galmudug is a federal state located in the center of Somalia.

It is a very central part of the country. The state sits about 750 km away from Mogadishu and Bosaso. It also sits about 750 km from Harar in Ethiopia. To the east, the land meets the Indian Ocean. The state shares borders with Puntland to the north. To the south, it borders the Hirshabelle state. To the west, it borders the Somali Region of Ethiopia. The name Galmudug comes from combining the names of its two main regions. These regions are Galgaduud and Mudug.

Making the state was a long and careful process. It involved many different leaders and groups. In February 2011, leaders from Galmudug and Puntland met in Garowe. They signed an agreement to help each other with security and trade. Later, the federal government worked to help form a new state. In July 2014, a big meeting happened in Mogadishu. Leaders from Galmudug, Himan and Heeb, and Ahlu Sunna Waljama'a signed a pact. This helped create the Central Regions State. This state follows the rules of the Somali constitution. Many international groups like the UN and EU also attended these meetings.

Setting up the government took many steps and many meetings. In late 2014, the government picked six special committees. These groups had important jobs to do. One group worked on the constitution. Another group worked on making things peaceful. A third group helped with security and rules. A fourth group helped move people to the meetings. A fifth group helped find delegates. A sixth group helped take care of guests. In April 2015, a large conference was held in Adado. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud launched this event. Traditional leaders were tasked with picking 510 delegates to elect a president.

Many different groups of people live in this region. These groups are called clans. The Hawiye clan is very large in the area. This includes groups like the Habar Gidir, Sheekhaal, Duduble, Abgaal, and Murusade. The Darod clan is also a large part of the population. The Marehan sub-clan is very common in the Galgaduud region. They live in places like Abudwak and Dhusamareb. The Dir clan is also found here, especially the Surre sub-clan. These groups live in towns and in the countryside. They often work together through alliances and land-sharing.

Life in Galmudug includes many different services. The capital city is Dhusamareb. Galkayo was once the capital for the administration. There are many schools for children to attend. Most of these schools are run by private groups. However, the government wants to open free schools soon. There are also many universities for older students. You can find them in Adado, Galkayo, and Guriel. To keep the land and sea safe, there are security forces.

One group is the Galmudug Maritime Force. They protect the ocean from illegal fishing and piracy. They also help protect marine resources. This helps keep the waters safe for everyone.