2.5. Galmudug

According to Map 3 Somalia – Approximate Territorial Control as of 31 March 2026 and Map 2 Somalia – Approximate Territorial Control as of 31 March 2025, Al-Shabaab controlled central and southeastern parts of Galgaduud region, including the towns Wahbo, Elbur (Ceel Buur), Galhareri and Osweyne. Most of the other rural parts south of the road connecting Guri El, Dhuusamarreeb, and Cadaado were under mixed control, including the rural southern part around Ceel Dheer and Masagaway and a small part along the southern stretch of the border with Mudug. The above-mentioned towns Guri El, Dhuusamarreeb, Cadaado, Ceel Dheer and Masagaway were controlled by the ‘federal-aligned coalition’, as were Bahdo, and Balanbal, Herale and Cabudwaaq near the Ethiopian border.551

Government (aligned) operations against Al-Shabaab were reported during the reference period.552 According to a November 2025 article by SMN, clan-related killings significantly increased in late 2024 and 2025.553 Incidences of clan attacks during the reference period were reported,554 for example, in the Meersiis area,555 in Hindheere and 556Balanbal,557 and in the Guudoole558 area.559

In the period from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026, ACLED recorded 298 security incidents in Galgaduud region, including battles, explosions or other forms of remote violence, and violence against civilians, causing 580 fatalities.560

Figure 27: Evolution of security events and fatalities in Galgaduud per month, based on ACLED data.561

Figure 28: Evolution of security events in Galgaduud per type, based on ACLED data.562

In the period from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026, the following actors (coded as either ‘Actor 1’, or ‘Actor 2’) were, among others, involved in security incidents: Al-Shabaab was involved in 81 security incidents against Military Forces of Somalia and associated actors (including Hawiye sub-clan militias and Ahlu Sunna Wal Jamaa). Moreover, Al-Shabaab was involved in 18 security incidents against various (sub-)clan militias. 85 security incidents involved clashes between (sub-)clan militias, and 79 incidents involved violence against civilians by (sub-)clan militias.563

Illustrative security incidents

Conflict-related displacement

According to the UNHCR PRMN, 1 056 individuals were newly displaced from Galgaduud region due to conflict or insecurity in the period from April 2025 to February 2026. The majority of the displaced individuals (1 000) were displaced within Galgaduud in November 2025, moving from Dhuusamareeb district to Cadaado district. In the same period, 11 other individuals arrived from other regions, all from Buhodle district of Togdheer.568

Other impacts on civilian life and humanitarian situation

A December 2025 map by UNOCHA showed ‘very heavy restrictions’ regarding humanitarian access in most of Ceel Buur and in parts of Dhuusamarreeb and Ceel Dheer districts.569 Parts of Galgaduud were also affected by drought. Water prices doubled, leading to reduced access.570 Humanitarian access was reportedly limited by clashes involving government forces, as well as inter-clan violence.571 In total, UNOCHA recorded five humanitarian access incidents in 2025.572 As of January 2026, IPC reported that about 75 % of the total analysed population of 844 925 were either in Acute Food Insecurity IPC Phase 2 (stressed, 35 %), 3 (crisis, 29 %) or 4 (emergency, 11 %).573 As of November 2025, UNOCHA mentioned that Ceelbuur district had been under the influence of non-state armed actors for 15 years and faced severe levels of hunger.574 NRC recorded no evictions in Galgaduud in 2025 and 2026.575

No current information could be found regarding infrastructure damage and access to health.