Hiiraan Online
Thursday January 18, 2018
Galmudug President Ahmed Duale Haaf and Ahlu Sunna Waljama'a leader, Sheikh Mohamed Shakir join hands during a flag-raising ceremony in Dhusamareb.
Dhusamareeb (HOL) - The Galmudug state flag was hoisted in its designated capital, Dhusamareeb for the first time since the inception of the state in 2014.
Galmudug and Ahlu Sunna Waljama'a (ASWJ) leaders on Thursday concluded the final reconciliation process for central regions in Somalia.
Abdisamed Moalim Mohamed, the chairman of mediation team to spoke the media on Thursday morning and said sides are engaging the final talks on reconciliation and to move forward for the unification the administrations.
"Today we started the final reconciliation process of Galmudug and Ahlusuna, the sides are happy to solve their rifts through dialogue and work together for the betterment of Galmudug," said Mohamud.
In a ceremony held Dhusamareeb town, the sides pledged to bury the hatchet.
The President, Ahmed Duale Haaf and ASWJ leader, Sheikh Mohamed Shakir shook hands at the ceremony.
Speaking at the event, Sheikh Shakir welcomed the new dawn for Galmudug saying it is better for the sides to forget the past and jointly work for the development of Galmudug state.
He called on residents of Galmudug state to collaborate with their administration.
For his part, President Haaf termed the deal a historic step forward.
The celebrated event was attended by the President of Somalia, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo; The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, Michael Keating; as well as leaders of regional other regional states.
In 2014, Ahlu Sunna Waljama'a (ASWJ) boycotted the state formation conference in Adado town following dissatisfaction with the process.
Since that time AWSJ declared to be a self-ruling state in Dhusamareeb town and its surroundings.
Somali government had several times brokered talks between AWSJ and Galmudug state through the talks collapsed following conditions brought by AWSJ.Somali President Mohammed Abdullahi Farmajo announced that ASWJ troops will be integrated into the Somali National Army. ASWJ commands as many as 5,000 troops.
AWSJ which is moderate Sufi paramilitary group that has engaged fighting with AlSshabaab in Several towns in central and Southern Somalia.