Somalia: Clan conflict in Central city claims at least 55 lives

• A violent clash between two clans in central Somalia has resulted in 55 deaths and 155 injuries.
• The conflict is a result of clan-based clashes over land and water control.
• Government forces arrived late, leading to the death of 55 people.

Residents and medical officials said on Monday that a violent clash over the weekend between two clans in central Somalia has killed at least 55 people and injured another 155.

Somalia’s federal government not only struggles to contain violence unleashed by the Al Qaeda-linked Al-Shabab group but also faces clan-based clashes over control of land and water in the Horn of Africa nation.

Farah Nur, a clan elder and resident of Herale, said the clash between the Dir and Marihan clans erupted on Saturday in Abudwaq and Herale towns over grazing land and watering points. Both clans fought alongside each other in the paramilitary group that ousted Al-Shabab from the Galmudug region.

“Government forces came late. Unfortunately, 55 people died, this includes both clans,” he told Reuters.

“It was easy to stop (the fight) but it didn’t happen. The situation got out of hand and spread like wildfire.”

Personnel from hospitals in Herale, Abudwaq, and two other adjacent towns confirmed to Reuters that they had attended to 115 wounded people in the fighting. Residents reported that those who died were buried immediately.

“We believe Al-Shabab is indirectly behind this strange war,” said Ahmed Shire Falagle, a security adviser to the president of Galmudug state. “These are two brotherly clans that jointly used to defeat Al-Shabab.”

Residents and Falagle said the fighting subsided following the arrival of federal government soldiers.

“There is (a) ceasefire but the mood is not good. Sadia Hussein, a mother of four, told Reuters from Abudwaq that a permanent ceasefire is needed.

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