Somalia's Al Shabab Islamic resistance movement marched through the streets of a town inside the Horn of Africa country. Despite claims by the US-backed transitional regime, the resistance to imperialism continues., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.
Somalia: Clashes Kill 10 in Jowhar After Clans Accuse Govt of 'Subjugation'
16 JUNE 2013
Jowhar — Clashes in Jowhar, led to 10 deaths between clan militia and government forces on Saturday, days following traditional elders' accusation of being "subjugated" by dominant clans backed by the Somali Federal Government, Garowe Online reports.
According to local sources, at least 10 people were killed on the battling sides on Saturday on the outskirts of Johwar in the Middle Shabelle region in southern Somalia.
Johwar district government officials said that government forces clashed with alleged Al Shabaab fighters after the forces reportedly headed to an area where a murder occurred.
"The forces that battled with us [government forces] were Al Shabaab fighters, because there are no clans with armed [technical] vehicles in the region, so we believe that Al Shabaab used this opportunity and engaged with government forces [on Saturday]," said spokesman for regional government of Middle Shabelle, Daud Haji Irro.
However, traditional elders in the region falsified Mr. Irro's allegations, saying that their militia was responsible for the clashes after government forces attempted to force them out of their homes.
"The government forces that were sent by Governor of Middle Shabelle region Abdi Jinoow attacked our towns so they can force us out of our homes and property and we [clan militia] defended ourselves," said Nabadoon Hassan Ali - a traditional elder from a minority clan in the region.
Nabadoon Ali said that his clan had fought hard against Al Shabaab and denied the allegations that Al Shabaab fighters took part in Saturday's clashes.
Clan elders held a televised press conference earlier this week insisting that the SFG intervene in the region. Also traditional elders in the region of Hiraan held a televised event earlier this week accusing Hiraan regional officials of "subjugating and marginalizing" minority clans in the region.
Conflict analysts who spoke GO said that the area in which the two battling sides are clashing is an area for rich farmland and during Somalia's former President Siad Barre was major agriculture area.
SFG officials in Mogadishu have yet to comment on the clashes.
GAROWE ONLINE
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