Clash Over Revenue Control Erupts in Yaqbariweyne as Militias Face Off Against South West State Forces

Mogadishu (AX) — Things are heating up in Yaqbariweyne as the South West State troops gear up to take on local militias, stirring worries of a fresh conflict over who calls the shots and collects taxes in the area.

Folks in Yaqbariweyne have mentioned that both factions are on high alert, causing the local populace to brace for what might come. Eyes and ears on the ground hint that the South West forces are keen on tightening their grip on the town, which has, for the past few months, been pretty much under the thumb of armed groups.

A couple of days back, tensions already boiled over, with reports citing six lives lost from both camps. This new flare-up is just another chapter in a long-drawn-out saga, featuring South West State units locking horns with militia outfits in a bid for dominance.

At the heart of this showdown is a clash over how taxes are being gathered. Word on the street is that these militias have been levying charges on locals, a move that the South West State folks have outright slammed as rogue. This monetary beef has only added fuel to the fire, with the State forces stepping in to contest the militias’ right to call the financial shots.

As both camps stand their ground, and tensions reach fever pitch, this tug-of-war over control and resources in this strategically bankrolled Lower Shabelle locale throws the community into a whirlwind of uncertainty and instability.

Edited by: Ali Musa

alimusa@axadletimes.com

Axadle international–Monitoring