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| Africa Horn | |
| Somalia: ‘Dispute among Govt troops turns deadly’ | |
| 2013-11-24 | |
Speaking to the media in Mogadishu Minister Nur, a member of reconciliation committee that was deployed in the region said “the government launched investigations into the incident” in an effort to resolve the recurring clan conflicts. “We succeeded to relocate [Somali Government Forces] to their previous positions and following collected reports we are planning to identify the group who is responsible for the fighting,” Nur told reporters on Thursday. The justice minister alongside a ministerial delegation including Interior and National Security Minister Abdikarin Hussein Guled and Defence Minister Abdihakin Haji Mohamud Fiqi Wednesday toured K.50 area, about 50km west of Mogadishu where the fighting had taken place for two days. On Sunday afternoon, heavy battle broke out between local militiamen and Somali Government forces reportedly led by Gen. Mohamed Roble Jimale ‘Gobale’, a close associate of former warlord Yusuf Mohamed Siyad Indha’ade leaving over dozen dead according to witnesses. Lower Shabelle region has been a spot for armed confrontations between Somali Government forces along clan loyalties. On July 24, Somali Government troops belonging to Biyamal and Habar Gedir clans fought each other over regional influence. The UN Monitoring Group on Somalia and Eritrea said in a confidential report in July that the 3rd Brigade of the Somali National Army (SNA) whose composition is mainly drawn from Habar Gedir sub-clan of Hawiye controls the Afgoye-Marka area of Lower Shabelle region. | |
| Posted by:Steve White |