Somalia: Six killed in renewed fighting over regional influence
Jul 26, 2014 - 9:51:36 AM
MARKA, Somalia July 26, 2014 (Garowe Online)-At least six people have been
killed in renewed fighting over regional influence in Lower Shabelle region
of southern Somalia on Saturday, Garowe Online reports.
Speaking on BBC Somali Service, Lower Shabelle governor Abdulkadir Mohamed
Nur Siidi confirmed that the battle left six fighters from the opposing
sides dead and movement of vehicles on Mogadishu-Marka highway interrupted.
"Nearly six persons died in the fighting, it raged between the two sides who
have been at loggerheads over the last months," said Siidi, noting that the
battle was imminent since the warring militias have been on the frontline.
He urged both sides to exercise restraint and halt hostility which could
spur further security challenges in the region.
Federal Government of Somalia previously dispatched mediators to at least
broker ceasefire between the armed clan militias as inclusive peace deal was
far from over at the time of mediation.
Federal government troops fought each other for clan loyalties, exposing how
Somalia government was grappling with the tiny clout of former militiamen
within the army.
UN monitors warned in 2013 confidential report of the magnitude of looming
threats of instability in Lower Shabelle region.