Hiiraan Online
Monday, September 28, 2015
MOGADISHU (HOL) ---Somalia’s prime minister has appealed an immediate a ceasefire in a tribal fighting in two regions in central and northern Somalia that killed dozens of people since last week.
The fighting between clan militias started after land and pasture dispute between sub-clans which has led to deadly fighting which displaced hundreds of residents including women and children.
In a statement issued on Sunday evening, Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke urged the warring clans in Mudug and Sool regions to end hostility through dialogue to enable them to cohabit peacefully.
“It is regrettable to see the occurrence of conflict in these two regions, and I call out to both warring sides to immediate unconditional cease-fire, and remind them that conflict and unnecessary loss of lives will not resolve anything other than escalate animosity." Mr. Sharmarke said in the statement
“Somalia has moved away from the era of decaying clan conflicts, we now seek development, peace and prosperity,” he added.
The prime minister said he reached out to elders from the two warring sides who said they have willingly accepted his appeal to implement a ceasefire with immediate effect.
No comment could be reached from leaders of the warning tribal militias on the peace call by the prime minister.
Somalia has seen many deadly clan conflict since warlords overthrew the central government led by the late Somali president Siad Barre. The wars, which began as struggle for control of the government, quickly degenerated into predatory looting, banditry, and occupation of valuable real estate by conquering clan militias.
Young gunmen fought principally to secure war booty, and were under only the loosest control of militia commanders, according to a 2005 report by the World Bank.
The collapse of the central state led to fragmentation and an economy of plunder that brought leaders into conflict with other leaders, sometimes from the same clan, vying for control of the same local area and resources.