The United Nations, the European Union (EU), the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) welcome the signing of an agreement between Puntland and Galmudug yesterday and congratulate Presidents Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gaas and Abdikarim Hussein Guled for their commitment to restore peace to the communities living in Gaalkacyo.

“We urge the two leaders to respect the Gaalkacyo Agreement and engage in dialogue to address the root causes of the recent fighting.

“There is a need to expeditiously implement the Agreement so that it becomes the first step towards addressing the outstanding issues between Puntland and Galmudug. We encourage Puntland and Galmudug to open dialogue and to negotiate in good faith with a view towards finding a lasting solution to their differences. 

“We call on President Gaas and President Guled to increase co-operation between Puntland and Galmudug and undertake initiatives aimed at building trust between the communities residing in Galkaacyo.

“We acknowledge the critical role played by the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS), particularly Prime Minister Omar Abdirishid Ali Sharmarke, and congratulate the FGS for its prompt mediation. We also commend the leaders of the other emerging states, President Ahmed Islam Madobe of Jubbaland and President Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan of South West, who supported the signing of the Gaalkacyo Agreement. 

“We call on the Somali stakeholders to continue to respect the aspirations of the Somali people and ensure full respect for human rights. They should maintain unity and cohesion and refrain from activities that could undermine the ongoing state-building process, as well as the preparations for the electoral process in 2016. Lessons should be drawn from the Galkaacyo crisis, particularly the need to accelerate the integration of regional forces and to decide on the national security architecture for a federal Somalia”.

The partners also emphasized that spoilers who undermine the Gaalkacyo Agreement or the wider national political process, including the 2016 electoral process, should be aware that the international community is watching and will hold them accountable.