Galkayo City Ceasefire

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Country/entity: Somalia
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Galkayo City Ceasefire
Date: 2 Dec 2015
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/local conflict
Somali Civil War (1991 - )
Originally spurred by centre-peripheral tensions, fighting broke out in 1981 between the regime of President Said Barre and the Somali National Movement, a militia primarily consisting of members from the northern Ishaq clan. Fighting intensified in the late 1980s as more clan-based militias arose. President Barre’s regime collapsed in late 1991 and as a result the UN intervened. However persistent attacks on the UN’s forces forced a withdrawal in 1994. From the mid- to late 1990s, the character of the conflict shifted as warlords fought for access to rents. Also during this period, two different peace agreements arose; the Sodere Declaration, which was mediated by Ethiopia and supported by IGAD, and the Cairo Accord, which was brokered by Egypt. Fighting, already noticeably lessened compared to the early 1990s, decreased and the more amicable environment paved the way for the Transitional Government to be formed in 2000 (replaced in 2004 by the Transitional Federal Government).

Nonetheless, opposition to the TFG arose in the form of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU), which by early 2006 had taken control of most of southern Somalia until they were ousted by an armed intervention by Ethiopia in December 2006. As a result, the ICU splintered. Hard-line ICU members formed the Takfiri organization, Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen, and launched a guerrilla campaign against the TFG. Another faction of the ICU fled to Djibouti and formed the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia, which was absorbed into the ruling TFG after successful negotiations in 2007.

To deal with the new round of fighting, the UN-mandated AMISOM force was deployed in 2007. Since then, insecurity has fluctuated between the urban and rural areas as the al-Shabaab's territorial gains waver. Local militia leaders maintain de facto governance over communities. From 2009 to 2012, insecurity spilled over into the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean when Somali pirates seized, looted and ransomed ships. In 2014, 'Operation Indian Ocean' was launched and in parallel with infighting among al-Shabaab, the organisation's position in Somalia has diminished slightly. However, as evidenced by large-scale attacks by al-Shabaab in northern Kenya throughout 2013-2015, the lack of security continues to destabilize the region. Al-Shabaab continues to launch surprise attacks with the aim of forcing out foreign military presence in Somalia. Targets include both military forces and civilians. The devastating attack in October 2017 in Mogadishu saw 587 fatalities and resulted in a renewed military offensive by the Somali government and African Union allies. Since 2017, the U.S. has increased its air strikes targeting al-Shabaab militants, and in December 2018 they announced to re-establish a permanent diplomatic mission in the country. Al-Shabaab has been characterized as a spoiler in the Somali peace process and have therefore been placed outside of any negotiations.
Stage: Ceasefire/related
Conflict nature: Inter-group
Peace process: Somali Local Peace Processes
Parties: Abdiwili Mohamed Ali Gaas, President of Puntland State

Abdikarim Hussein Guled, President of Galmudug State
Third parties: mediated by Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke
with support from the UN, EU, IGAD, and clan elders
Description: Ceasefire between Puntland state and Galmudug state, in Galkayo city

Agreement document: SO_151202_Galkayo City Ceasefire_EN.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF
Agreement document (original language): SO_151202_Galkayo City Ceasefire_SO.pdf (opens in new tab)| Download PDF

Local agreement properties

Process type: Formal structured process
Rationale: This peace agreement was mediated by Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke with support from the UN, EU, IGAD, and clan elders. It is not the first peace agreement addressing tensions in Galkayo (see, for example, the Ramada Peace Agreement of 04/12/2005).
Is there a documented link to a national peace process?: Yes
Link to national process: articulated rationale: The agreement calls for a ceasefire in Galkayo and is signed by the Presidents of Puntland and Galmudug states. It was mediated by the Somalia Prime Minister and welcomed by the Somali TFG President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. This, as well as the involvement of the UN, EU, and IGAD, suggests a link to the broader national-level attempt at ending conflicts in Somalia.
Name of Locale: Galkayo
Nature of Locale: City
GPS Lat/Long (DD): 6.770474, 47.429426
Participant type: International or transnational actor
Domestic religious organisation/leader or other elder
Regional state actor
Mediator, facilitator or similar: Mediator or similar referred to
Mediator (references): Mediator: Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke with support from the UN, EU, IGAD, and clan elders.
Type of mediator/facilitator/similar: Central state actor Domestic religious organisation/leader or other elder International or transnational actor

Local issues

Ritual/prayer and process (including use of scripture): No specific mention.
Grievance List: Page 1, Agreement description:, A four-point agreement aimed at solving tensions in Galkayo City, which is divided administratively between Puntland (the Daarood-Majeerteen Clan) and South Somalia (Hawiye-Habargidir clan). Two days of fighting killed 30 people, mostly civilians, and displaced 40,000 in October 2015.
Cattle rustling/banditry: No specific mention.
Social cover: No specific mention.

Galkayo Ceasefire

Comprehensive Ceasefire

Keep away the warring parties from the city, to become a safe free of heavy weapons

Re-displaced people to their homes in collaboration with the federal government

To appoint a committee from the federal government and the provincial governments to end the crisis in Galkayo and to discuss a lasting peace and cooperation between Galmudug and Puntland.

Signed:

Abdiwili Mohamed Ali Gaas, President of Puntland State

Abdikarim Hussein Guled, President of Galmudug State