The Somali government has called for an immediate end to the clan violence that has erupted in several regions of the country, blaming the extremist group Al-Shabaab for inciting the conflicts.
The Minister of Interior, Ahmed Ma’alin Fiqi, held a press conference in Mogadishu on Thursday and condemned the recent killings in Dhusamareeb, where dozens of people died in clashes between rival clans over land disputes.
Fiqi said that the incident was “a very bad incident that did not suit Islam, nationalism and Somali dignity” and appealed to the warring parties to stop the bloodshed and seek peaceful solutions.
He also expressed concern over the ongoing clashes in Xanaan Buuro and other areas bordering the Mudug region, where armed groups have been fighting over grazing rights and water sources.
He accused Al-Shabaab of exploiting the clan divisions and using clan militias to fuel the violence. He said that the government forces were determined to bring security and stability to the affected areas and to continue their operations against Al-Shabaab.
He urged the regional administrations of Galmudug, Puntland and Hirshabelle to take immediate action to reconcile their brothers and said that the federal government was ready to provide any assistance to end the conflicts.
He concluded his speech by saying that the Somali government would support any clan reconciliation efforts as long as they were against Al-Shabaab, which still controls some parts of the country.
