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Clan militias mobilize as tensions escalate on Hiiraan-Middle Shabelle border
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    Friday November 29, 2024


    Armed clan militias mobilize in the arid borderlands of Somalia’s Hiiraan and Middle Shabelle regions, where disputes over grazing land have fueled rising tensions. Efforts to mediate the conflict have so far failed, raising fears of imminent violence.

    Mogadishu (HOL) — Tensions have boiled over on the volatile border between Somalia’s Hiiraan and Middle Shabelle regions, as rival clan militias mobilize for what many fear could be another bloody confrontation. Armed groups from the Hawadle and Abgaal clans have entrenched themselves near the village of Halfooleey.

    The crisis is centred between El Baraf and Jalalaqsi districts, a flashpoint in Somalia’s long struggle with resource-driven conflicts. 

    Both sides have been amassing weapons and fighters. Locals describe a palpable tension in the air, with fears of an outbreak of violence looming. Residents describe a fragile calm overshadowed by the ominous presence of armed militias, who are said to be entrenching their positions.

    Attempts by the Hirshabelle administration to mediate have repeatedly faltered. Elders and political leaders from both clans held a high-profile meeting in Mogadishu last week, issuing desperate calls for calm. But their appeals have largely fallen on deaf ears.

    The dispute is not an isolated conflict. Land disputes, exacerbated by weak institutions and limited resources, continue to ignite tensions in rural areas. 

     





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