UN expresses concern over Galkaayo peace deal collapse

United Nation has expressed concern over the recent breakdown of the ceasefire between the regional states in northern and central Somalia.

Over 20 people killed and eighty others were injured after fierce fighting erupted between the forces of Puntland and Galmudug states less than a week after the sides inked peace deal in Abu Dubai.

Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) for Somalia, Michael Keating who travelled to Bossaso on Monday  said in press statement that Failure to implement the ceasefire and find a peaceful solution to the crisis will not only cause further suffering for the population of Galkaayo, but will also escalate tensions that extremists could exploit.

. “I remain confident that a lasting solution to this long running conflict can be found if all parties act in good faith.” said Keating.

The sentiment comes barely a day after 25 soldiers killed in weekend fighting between rival Puntland and Galmudug regional forces in Galkaayo town.

The divided city of Galkaayo, about 700 kilometres northeast of the capital Mogadishu, has seen repeated clashes in recent weeks but Sunday’s fighting is the deadliest yet and marked the collapse of a short-lived peace agreement between the two semi-autonomous Somali states.

In September the US was drawn into the rivalry when Galmudug authorities accused Puntland of duping US forces into carrying out an air strike on its soldiers, killing 13.