By Mustafa Awale Ahmed
Galkayo, a city at the very heart of Somalia, is a place of stark contrasts. Strategically located in the central Mudug region, it serves as a vital crossroads connecting the nation’s north and south. It has been a cradle of nationalist movements and a key player in state-building efforts. Yet, it remains a city of two halves, divided between the administrations of Puntland in the north and Galmudug in the south, a legacy of the civil war that tore the country apart.
Following intense conflict in 2015-2016, a landmark peace agreement brought a period of hope, cooperation, and relative stability. For a time, development flourished. But that fragile peace has been shattered by the resurgence of a familiar poison: Aano, a brutal cycle of clan-based revenge killings that has crippled the city’s progress and left its people in a state of despair.
Over the past three years, dozens have been murdered in North Galkayo alone. Some estimates suggest that between 30 and 40 elite individuals; business owners, academics, doctors, and intellectuals, have been assassinated since 2022, with most cases remaining unsolved. These are not random acts of violence; they are targeted killings designed to inflict maximum pain and damage on the rival clan by eliminating its most valuable members.
Understanding ‘Aano’: A Vicious Substitute for Justice
Aano is more than just a crime; it is a deeply entrenched social practice. It refers to an act of clan-based revenge where the relatives of a murder victim retaliate by killing any member of the perpetrator’s clan, holding the entire lineage accountable for the crime of one individual. This destructive cycle is born from a vacuum of justice. When formal legal channels fail and the traditional right of retribution (Qisaas) is denied, Aano becomes a tragic substitute for justice, igniting a chain of killings that can last for generations.
The Driving Forces Behind the Violence: Several interconnected factors fuel this persistent cycle of revenge in Galkayo:
A Vacuum of Justice and Weak Law Enforcement: When a murder occurs, the state’s failure to apprehend the perpetrator and deliver justice creates a void filled by vengeance. The Puntland administration has often been unable to make arrests, leaving victims’ families feeling abandoned. This is compounded when traditional elders from the perpetrator’s clan obstruct justice by refusing the execution of retribution (Qisaas), often citing interpretations of customary law (Xeer) to delay or deny justice. This leaves families with no choice but to take the law into their own hands.
A City Awash in Weapons: Decades after its formation, the Puntland government has failed to disarm and nationalize clan militias, a step Somaliland successfully took. Instead, weapons have proliferated, with some leaders even distributing advanced arms to their own clans. In this environment of anarchy, clans feel compelled to arm themselves for protection, leading to a deadly arms race.
The wide availability of weapons means that retaliatory attacks are often swift and brutal, as waiting for a dysfunctional justice system is seen as a sign of weakness or inferiority.
Fragmented Security and a Lack of Cooperation: Somalia’s federal system has created a fragmented security apparatus. Criminals easily evade justice by fleeing from Puntland-controlled North Galkayo to areas under Galmudug’s authority, or vice versa, where they often find safe haven among relatives in rural areas. The persistent lack of security cooperation between the two states, and the absence of federal intervention, creates a culture of impunity where perpetrators operate freely.
Social Media as a Weapon: Modern technology has become a powerful accelerant for this ancient practice. Social media pages are used to spread hate speech, justify retaliation, and incite violence by blaming entire clans. Reports indicate that clan militias even use WhatsApp groups to raise funds for revenge killings and to share images of targeted individuals, turning digital platforms into tools of terror.
The Heavy Price of Revenge
The human and economic cost of Aano has been devastating for Galkayo.
Economic Collapse: This targeted violence has crippled the city’s economy. Many business owners have closed their shops and fled, while diaspora investment has stalled. The vibrant future Galkayo once envisioned has been held hostage, transforming it into one of Somalia’s most dangerous cities.
Breaking the Cycle: A Path to Peace and Restoration
Restoring peace requires a comprehensive, multi-layered approach involving both political will and community action.
1. A Call for Political Will
Institutional Reform: The Puntland government must undertake bold reforms of the Mudug regional administration and security institutions, appointing competent leaders who can act beyond clan loyalties and restore public trust.
Security Cooperation: Puntland must establish a joint security framework with Galmudug and the Federal Government. This is essential for pursuing and prosecuting criminals who exploit administrative borders to evade justice. Without this cooperation, the culture of impunity will continue.
Building Credible Justice: An impartial and effective justice system is non-negotiable. This system must ensure that the right to choose between retribution (Qisaas) or compensation (Diyo) rests solely with the victim’s immediate family (Walid-dam), not with clan elders. If compensation is chosen, it must be paid directly to the family, bypassing traditional structures that can corrupt the process.
2. Healing from Within the Community
Empowering the Youth: The youth must be at the forefront of peace building . The government and community leaders should actively engage young people in dialogue and reconciliation initiatives, organizing youth-led peace rallies, sports tournaments, and workshops to foster social integration. Creating job opportunities is also crucial to restore hope and offer alternatives to violence.
A Campaign for Peace: Civil society, religious leaders (Ulimo), academics, and the diaspora must unite to lead a massive public awareness campaign. Mosques should preach the Islamic principles of forgiveness and the sanctity of life. Universities and schools should host debates on peace and coexistence, and messages of unity should be displayed across the city’s streets.
Conclusion: A Choice Between Vengeance and a Vibrant Future
Galkayo stands at a critical crossroads. To break the cycle of Aano, it needs inclusive governance, credible justice, and active community participation. If the people of Galkayo can choose unity over division and forgiveness over vengeance, the city has the potential to reclaim its destiny and once again become a vibrant economic hub that connects all of Somalia and the wider region.
Mustafa Awale Ahmed is a political and security analyst and can be reached at mustafa.h2200@gmail.com.
