Sunday June 8, 2025

Galkayo (HOL) – A man and a woman were shot dead on Saturday by unidentified gunmen while returning from a tourist site on the outskirts of Galkayo town, local sources have reported.

The victims were traveling in a vehicle when armed assailants opened fire, killing both on the spot. The attackers fled the scene, and no group has claimed responsibility for the incident.

While the motive remains officially unconfirmed, independent sources suggest the attack may have been a clan-based revenge killing, targeting the male victim specifically.

The incident highlights a disturbing rise in clan-related violence in the Mudug region, particularly in the wake of recent security gains by Puntland forces against al-Shabaab in Galkayo. Despite halting militant attacks in the town, authorities have struggled to curb inter-clan violence and retaliatory killings.

Earlier this year in Bursaalax, two businessmen — including the Golis telecom company manager — were also killed in a clan-related shooting. Residents and observers point to a lack of accountability for perpetrators as a key factor fueling the violence. Many of those responsible reportedly evade justice and remain at large.

Sources indicate that Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni is expected to make leadership changes in the Mudug regional administration and security agencies to address the deteriorating situation.