Ceasefire deal between rival states inked in Mogadishu

The two regional states in Central and Northern Somalia have inked a peace agreement in the Somali capital of Mogadishu on Sunday.

Recurrent clashes that broke out several times between the semi-autonomous regional state of Puntland and Somalia’s central regional state, Galmudug have claimed over lives of over one hundred people including civilians, combatants from both sides.

The deal which signed the leaders of both states was aimed to end the long-standing fighting that had displaced over sixty thousand people.

During the signing the agreement, the two presidents of states, Abdikarim Hussein Guled of Galmudug and Abdiweli Mohamed Ali of Puntland said they are committed to refraining from violence incitement, to supporting the return of displaced people to their homes.

The pact included forming joint Police forces from both regions to oversee conflict areas, allow movement of residents and vehicles between regions.

Somali President Hasan Shaikh Mahmoud, Somalia’s Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke and UN envoy to Somalia Michael Keating who all witnessed during signing of the agreement appealed to both leaders of Puntland and Galmudug to immediately implement the agreement with full commitment to ending violence in Galkayo.

Several Peace deals signed between the two states have collapsed due to recurrent fighting in Galkayo which is divided into two zones, where the northern portion forms part of Puntland state, while its southern part is governed by the Galmudug administration.

The two reached an agreement on avoiding fighting in December 2015, but the deal has never been implemented.

In November last year (2016) the leaders of both Puntland and Galmudug states reached ceasefire which collapsed a month later.

The deal which was brokered by the government of United Arab Emirates (UAE) failed after fighting broke out between forces of both states.

In last year’s October clashes in the central city of Galkayo alone claimed lives of over 30 people, including civilians, and forcing displacement over 80,000.

Late last month, two people killed and several others wounded after clashes flared up between Puntland and Galmudug troops amid food insecurity in areas that are usually reached by humanitarian groups through Galkayo.