Somali Interior Minister Calls for Halt to Clan Violence Aggravated by Al-Shabaab

MOGADISHU, Somalia – The government of Somalia has issued a decisive call for cessation of the ongoing clan violence across multiple regions, attributing the escalation in part to the extremist group Al-Shabaab.

According to Somali National News Agency, who spoke at a press conference in Mogadishu, the government has condemned the violence that has claimed lives in Dhusamareeb, where a significant number of casualties resulted from clashes over land disputes. The minister decried these events as contrary to the principles of Islam, nationalism, and the dignity of Somalia, calling on the conflicting parties to resolve their issues peacefully.

Highlighting additional conflicts in Xanaan Buuro and the Mudug region, Minister Fiqi pointed to disputes over grazing lands and water sources as the impetus for these armed confrontations. He squarely accused Al-Shabaab of exacerbating clan tensions and orchestrating violence through clan militias, an element of their broader strategy to destabilize the region.

In response, the minister outlined the government’s commitment to restoring order and advancing their ongoing military efforts against Al-Shabaab. He urged regional governments, including those of Galmudug, Puntland, and Hirshabelle, to engage in immediate reconciliation efforts and pledged the federal government’s support in these endeavors.

Concluding his remarks, Fiqi reaffirmed the Somali government’s resolve to back any clan reconciliation initiatives that oppose Al-Shabaab, a group that continues to maintain a foothold in various parts of the country.