Galkayo (, , Italian: Gallacaio, also known as Rocca Littorio) is the third-largest city in Somalia and serves as the capital of the north-central Mudug region.
Geographically, Galkayo is divided into four main quarters: Garsoor, Horumar, Israac, and Wadajir. Galkayo is divided between the regional states of Puntland and Galmudug. It serves as the capital of the Galkayo District as well as the Mudug region, and it has grown considerably in recent times, becoming a commercial hub connecting southern Somalia with the northern parts of the country.
History
At its founding, the city was primarily inhabited by pastoralists, who sporadically fought in clan groups over resources like water and grazing land. In particular, the Darod, dominant in the north of the city, and the Hawiye, dominant in the south of the city, fought over the city due to their long-standing rivalry. Kenadid, as part of an ongoing power struggle with his rivals in the Majeerteen Sultanate, signed a treaty with the Kingdom of Italy to become a protectorate, thereby passing the city into nominal Italian control.
The city fell back into conflict during the rule of Siad Barre, who actively took advantage of class differences within the city to exercise his power. In particular, Barre, a member of a Darod subclan, backed the Darod people in their struggle over the city. On 12 November 1989, a group of Hawiye officers mutinied against Barre's regime for this clan favoritism. This mutiny was put down a day later by a militia led by Maslah Mohammed Barre, Siad Barre's son.
Conflicts between Puntland and Galmudug authorities continued to erupt over the status of Galkayo. In November 2015, anger over the construction of a road in Puntland caused a skirmish which left 20 dead, 120 injured, and 90,000 displaced. The largest cities in the country most proximate to Galkayo are Galdogob (60 km), Hobyo (217 km), Garowe (219 km) and Qardho (358 km). Shimbiris, the highest peak in Somalia, is located some 432 km to the north in the Cal Madow mountain range.
Climate
Galkayo has a hot arid climate (Köppen BWh).
Administration
thumb|200px|Gakayo native [[Asha Gelle Dirie, a former minister in the Puntland government.]]
Galkayo is situated in the north-central part of Somalia, and is one of the most developed towns in the region. The city is divided into four main districts called Garsoor, Horumar, Israac, and Wadajir respectively. The Puntland Administration fully controls Garsoor, Israac, and Horumar (The neutral areas are sited by the Old Galkayo market and the loose boundary.
Although relatively stable compared to southern Somalia, The Puntland and Galmudug administrations subsequently signed an accord in Garowe in February 2011, officially agreeing to cooperate on security, economic and social matters so as to strengthen inter-regional relations.
Services
thumb|right|200px|An electronics store at a Galkayo [[shopping mall.]]
A lively trading city, Galkayo is a center for local business. The International Crisis Group gives a figure of 137,000 for 2015.
The Puntland area of the city is composed of the Mumin Aden and the Fiqi Ismael sub-clans of Leelkase alongside the Omar Mahamud and Reer Bicidyahan sub-clans of Majerteen; as well as the Awrtable, Arab Salah, and Surre clans.
The neighborhood of Wadajir in the southern area of the city, is mainly inhabited by the Sa'ad sub-division of the Habar Gidir and the Loobage sub-clan of Sheekhaal.
Education
thumb|right|200px|[[East Africa University's Galkayo campus.]]
Galkayo has a number of academic institutions. According to the Puntland Ministry of Education, there are 40 primary schools in the Galkayo District. Among these are the Axmed Guray school in Israac, named after Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi (Ahmed Gurey); Al-Qudus in Horumar; and Barkhadle in Garsoor, built in honour of the 13th century scholar and saint Yusuf bin Ahmad al-Kawneyn (Aw Barkhadle). Puntland secondary schools in the area include Haji Ali Bihi, Cumar Samatar Secondary School (CSSS), Yasin Nor Hassan and Galkayo High. In addition, several new schools were opened in 2012.
Institutions of higher learning with a presence in the city include the Puntland State University, Puntland University of Science and Technology, Galkayo University, and Mudug University. East Africa University (EAU) also has a Galkayo branch, one of its seven campuses in Puntland. Additionally, the public Galkayo Vocational Training Centre and the privately owned Mudug Vocational Training Center provide technical training.
Sports
Galkayo is home to Awale Stadium, a sporting facility that is named in memory of Mohammed Awale Liban, a Somali nationalist who designed the flag of Somalia in 1954. The stadium hosts many local football clubs, including FC YAMAYS, RPS FC, Dowladda Hoose FC, Comced FC, Homboboro FC, Telecom FC and Galcom FC.
In addition, the city also has another stadium Abdullahi Issa stadium in the South, named after Abdullahi Issa, the Prime Minister of Italian Somalia during the trusteeship period, serving from February 29, 1956, to July 1, 1960. Various courts built specifically for basketball and volleyball also exist in the city.
Transportation
Air transportation in Galacyo is served by the Abdullahi Yusuf Airport, operated by Puntland and Oshaco International Airport operated by Galmudug. Unlike Abdullahi Yusuf Airport, Oshaco International Airport does not have IATA and ICAO airport codes as it is not recognized by any international entity.
In September 2013, the Somali federal government signed an official cooperation agreement with its Chinese counterpart in Mogadishu as part of a five-year national recovery plan. The pact will see the Chinese authorities reconstruct several major infrastructural landmarks in the Somali capital and elsewhere, as well as the road linking Galkayo with Burao.
Media
Various media organizations are based in Galkayo. These include Radio Daljir, Radio Galmudug and Radio Codka-Mudug. Radio Gaalkacyo, formerly known as Radio Free Somalia, also broadcasts from the city.
thumb|Domesticated [[ostrich at the Taar City Hotel in Galkayo.]]
Neighborhoods
Galkayo consists of the following neighborhoods: Israac, Horumar, Garsoor and Wadajir.
==Notable residents==<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order by LAST NAME ♦♦♦--->
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- Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed - President of Somalia (2004-2008) and Founding Father of Puntland state.
- Asha Gelle Dirie – former Minister of Women Development and Family Affairs of Puntland.
- Waris Dirie – model, actress, author and activist.
- Mohammed Awale Liban - Designer of the Flag of Somalia in 1954, born in eastern Galkacyo, Puntland.
- Ahmed Duale Gelle - President of Galmudug, businessman and former federal MP.
- Zakaria Mohamed Haji-Abdi – leader of the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia.
- Abdulkadir Abdi Hashi – MP in Federal Parliament, and former State Minister of the Presidency for Planning and International Relations of Puntland.
- Abdirizak Haji Hussein – former Prime Minister of Somalia, and former Secretary General of the Somali Youth League.
- Abdi Bashiir Indhobuur - poet and playwright who composed of many patriotic songs.
- Mohamed Farrah Aidid, Chairman of the United Somali Congress that toppled Dictator Siad Barre, battled US Delta forces and UNOSOM during Operation Restore Hope and President of Somalia before his Death, 1987–1996
- Abdi Qeybdiid – former President of Galmudug, and former Interior Minister of Somalia.
- Ali Haji Warsame - First Director of Management at Port of Bosaso and presidential candidate at the Puntland presidential election, 2014.
- Mohamed Warsame Ali – first President of Galmudug, former Ambassador of Somalia to the US, former Minister of Commerce, Public Works, and Sports and Youth Affairs.
See also
- Galmudug
- Puntland