Strong Message to Garowe: You Can’t Muzzle the People Forever
In a powerful display of grassroots determination, the Galkayo Community Conference—deliberately obstructed and politically sabotaged by the Said Abdullahi Deni administration—has finally convened and concluded successfully, sending shockwaves through Puntland’s fragile political structure.
A Historic Moment the Deni Administration Tried to Bury
Let’s be clear: this conference was not welcomed by the current Puntland leadership. In fact, every trick in the book was deployed to prevent this gathering—from intimidation and administrative sabotage to propaganda campaigns painting the conference as anti-government or “chaos-driven.” President Deni’s administration had hoped to suppress it entirely under the false narrative that it would serve as a platform for hostile actors. But they were wrong—badly wrong.
What emerged instead was a genuine people-driven dialogue, a shining example of what constitutional participatory governance is meant to look like. Representatives from across Mudug—from professionals and youth leaders to elders and civil society advocates—showed up and made their voices heard.
The Real Fear: Accountability
Why would a government fear a community conference?
Because this administration is allergic to accountability. For far too long, the Deni regime has ruled with top-down arrogance, believing that the people of Puntland—particularly in strategically important cities like Galkayo—are passive subjects to be managed, not citizens to be consulted. That illusion has now been shattered.
Galkayo is not Garowe’s backyard. It is a city of resilience, a community tired of crumbling infrastructure, environmental neglect, and stalled development projects. The people have real questions:
Where are the long-promised roads, airports and city-sanitation networks?
Why is Galkayo—a city that has historically stood at the crossroads of Somali unity—treated like a neglected outpost?
Why has the regional government turned a blind eye to the deteriorating security and rising youth unemployment?
The Conference Outcome: Message Delivered, Loud and Clear
The Galkayo Community Conference became more than just a meeting—it was a political awakening.
1. It reaffirmed the community’s right to convene, debate, and organize.
The Constitution of Puntland—and of Somalia at large—protects civic assembly. Today’s conference was not an act of rebellion but of responsibility. The community has every right to organize and demand what the government has failed to deliver.
2. It exposed the paranoia of the Deni administration.
The groundless fears of “agents of chaos” or “anti-government movements” were exposed for what they were: a desperate excuse to justify authoritarian overreach. This was not an opposition rally; it was a civic dialogue. That it was feared speaks volumes.
3. It set a precedent for all other Puntland regions.
If Galkayo can do it, so can Bossaso, Qardho, Buuhoodle, and beyond. The era of muffling community voices under the guise of state security is ending. Puntland citizens are waking up to their constitutional role in governance.
A Warning to Garowe: The Tide Has Turned
President Deni and his advisors must understand that this is no longer the Puntland of One-man show, where leadership controlled both the narrative and the people. The people of Galkayo have spoken: you will not be allowed to rule in silence or with impunity.
The message is clear: the days of unilateral rule are numbered. Any future administration in Puntland must engage the people, listen to the ground, and allow bottom-up development.
This conference was a warning shot, not a declaration of war. But if the current leadership continues to stifle legitimate civic expression and refuses to course-correct, they will soon find themselves politically obsolete.
Final Word: From Galkayo, A New Chapter Begins
Let the record reflect:
The Galkayo Community Conference was held.
It was peaceful.
It was powerful.
It was necessary.
Let Puntland’s people across all districts take courage from this. Your voice matters. Your city matters. Your future must not be decided behind closed doors in Garowe.
The silence is broken.
The people are speaking.
And they will not be silenced again.
#GalkayoConference #PuntlandPeopleFirst #CivicPower #CommunityMatters #EndPoliticalArrogance
Warsame Policy & Media Network (WAPMEN) 