ConflictBarometer_2015

SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
Between December 12 and 16, clashes between both clans
over disputed land killed at least ten people and wounded
several more in and around Marka. A ceasefire agreement
brought the clashes to an end. Subsequently, the deputy
administrator of Marka asked the government to remove all
clan militias from the city.
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SOMALIA (HAWADLE SURRE / HIIRAAN)
Intensity: 3 | Change: | Start: 2012
Conflict parties:
Conflict items:
Hawadle militias vs. Surre militias
subnational predominance, resources
The violent crisis over subnational predominance and grazing
lands between the Hawadle clan and the Surre clan in the
Hiiraan region continued. After the selection of President
Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and the government in 2012, conflict
broke out between the two clans. Clan elders attempted
to mediate ever since the fighting started.
Between January 20 and March 27, at least 50 people were
killed and approx. 25 injured in fighting over grazing lands
around and in the city of Beledweyne. Furthermore, fighters
burnt down several houses and over 100 people fled the
area. On June 4, after a Hawadle militia had attacked a Surre
militia near Defow village, ten people died and 25 were
wounded in ensuing clashes. The same day, the government
deployed troops to Defow to stop the inter-clan fighting.
In the months of August and September, the government
proposed establishing a new federal state encompassing the
regions of Hiiraan and Middle Shabelle. On October 4, clan violence
broke out anew in Udugley, resulting in two fatalities.
Fighting involving government militiamen in Beledweyne
erupted due to a dispute over tax collection on October 19.
During the clashes, 14 were killed and at least 25 wounded.
In the aftermath of the incident, the government and the AU
deployed troops to the region and initiated peace talks with
clan elders. On November 15, government troops shot dead
a UN official belonging to one of the clans in a reportedly
clan-related dispute. Subsequently, his clan barricaded roads
and businesses in the region for several days. Retaliatory
attacks caused four deaths in Buulobarde and Dabayodley
on November 30. On December 13, three-day clan-related
clashes broke out in Beledweyne, killing at least 15 people
and wounding more than 45. During the fighting, the AU and
the government sent troops in order to intervene as well as
delegations to prepare peace talks. A Somali military officer
was killed in failed mediation efforts. However, on December
16, the involved parties signed a peace deal. The national
government threatened that in case such clashes did not
stop in Beledweyne, the city would not host any conferences
concerning the formation of a new federal state and, instead,
Jowhar in Middle Shabelle would be selected as capital for
this new state. loc
SOMALIA (KHATUMO STATE PUNTLAND
SOMALILAND)
Intensity: 3 | Change: | Start: 1998
Conflict parties:
Conflict items:
regional government of Somaliland
vs. Khatumo State vs. autonomous
region of Puntland
subnational predominance
The violent crisis over subnational predominance between
the self-declared independent state of Somaliland, the selfdeclared
Khatumo State, and the autonomous region of
Puntland continued. The area of contention comprised the
provinces of Sool, Sanaag, and Togdheer's Cayn section (SSC).
On January 4, Khatumo State supporters protested against
Somaliland's Wadani party opening an office in the town
of Buhoodle, Cayn. Khatumo militants carried out an attack
against soldiers of the Somaliland National Defence Force
(SLNDF) based at Sayidka Mountain, Sool, in the night of
February 4. When the latter responded with artillery fire,
the Khatumo militia withdrew from the area. On February
8, Khatumo militiamen attacked Somaliland troops in Hudun,
Sool. Three Somaliland and two Khatumo militants were
killed in the incident. Between February 17 and 22, SLNDF
and Khatumo militiamen clashed in Horufadhi village, Cayn,
leaving several people dead and others injured. Reportedly,
the Somaliland forces had attempted to arrest Khatumo officials.
An ambush by Khatumo militants against a Somaliland
military convoy in Qudhac Maqsin near Dabo Taag Village,
Sool, on February 24, left one shepherd dead and several
soldiers wounded.
Several hundred people participated in anti-Somaliland
demonstrations in cities and villages all over SSC between
March 7 and 20, showing their support for the Federal Government
of Somalia's (FGS) decision to halt the talks with
Somaliland administration. After Khatumo militias repeatedly
had attacked SLNDF based in Taleh, Sool, for over one month,
the Somaliland forces withdrew at the end of May. At least
one SLNDF soldier was killed. On May 18, pro-Somaliland
protesters of Las'anod celebrated Somaliland's ''Independence
Day''.
In contrast to previous years, tensions also arose between
Puntland and Khatumo State. On August 1, more than a hundred
supporters of Khatumo state staged a violent demonstration
against the Puntland authority in Buhoodle. Khatumo
militants and Puntland forces engaged in fighting in Sool on
August 15. On November 11, Khatumo fighters in combat
vehicles fired at Puntland soldiers in Boocame Village near
Las'anod.
Throughout the year, the dispute between Somaliland and
Puntland led to political tensions and several violent incidents.
On January 17, administrative delegations of Somaliland
and Puntland visited Buhoodle. After both had claimed
in speeches that the town was part of their administration,
a shooting between their security forces broke out. Puntland
condemned Somaliland's President Ahmed Mahamoud
Silanyo's visit to Las'anod on January 22. On January 30,
Puntland officials accused Somaliland of illegally importing
heavy weapons and armored vehicles as well as supporting
al-Shabaab militants operating in the Galgala region in northern
Puntland, which was denied by Somaliland shortly after
[→ Somalia (al-Shabaab)].
SLNDF stopped mining exploration activities by Mohamed
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