JALALAQSI, Somalia — Heavy fighting broke out early Sunday in the central Somali town of Jalalaqsi as forces loyal to the district commissioner clashed with armed clan militias following the detention of a traditional community elder, according to officials and witnesses.
Residents said they awoke to sustained gunfire as the two sides exchanged fire around district government buildings in Jalalaqsi, in the Hiiraan region. The violence began after local authorities detained a leading elder, prompting members of his clan to mount an armed push to secure his release by attacking the district offices.
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“Two people were killed and several others were wounded. The conflict started after the administration detained a leading elder who was taken from his clan. Authorities had requested the man’s release through legal channels, but his community rejected this and attacked the district offices,” a resident said.
By mid-morning, local elders had stepped in to mediate, and the situation had calmed, residents said. Community leaders were working to prevent the fighting from spreading to surrounding areas, where tensions remained high after the early-morning violence left neighborhoods shaken.
The Jalalaqsi district administration has not issued an official statement on the clashes or the status of the detained elder. Casualty figures could not be independently verified.
What we know so far:
- Location: Jalalaqsi, in Somalia’s central Hiiraan region.
- Trigger: The detention of a traditional elder by local authorities.
- Parties involved: Forces loyal to the district commissioner and armed clan militias.
- Casualties: At least two people killed and several others wounded, a resident said.
- Damage: Fighting centered around district government offices, residents reported.
- Status: Situation calmed after elders intervened; no official comment yet from district authorities.
The confrontation underscores the volatile mix of local political authority and clan loyalties in parts of central Somalia, where disputes involving community leaders can quickly escalate into armed confrontations. Residents described a tense morning as gunfire rattled the town before mediators moved in to broker a pause.
It was not immediately clear whether the detained elder has been released or whether any arrests were made after the clashes. Authorities have been urged by community leaders to resolve the matter through dialogue to avert further violence.
As of Sunday afternoon, Jalalaqsi remained quiet but on edge, with residents awaiting clarity from district officials on the circumstances of the elder’s detention and any next steps in the mediation process.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
