North Western State of Somalia President Calls for Immediate Ceasefire in Sanaag Clan Clashes

Friday, Feb. 27, 2026

HARGEISA (AX) — North Western State of Somalia President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro on Thursday called for an immediate end to clan fighting in the Waqdaria and Shidan areas of Lasqoray district in the Sanaag region, urging all sides to respect the sanctity of Ramadan as casualties mounted in days of escalating tension.

“I call on those who have been killing each other to stop the fighting, because the blood of Islam is forbidden,” Irro said, framing the appeal in religious terms and stressing that violence among Muslims is especially unacceptable during the holy month.

Abdirashid Mohamed Ahmed, the Minister of State for Interior and Security, separately issued a peace appeal and confirmed the violence involves two clans. He urged an unconditional cessation of hostilities and said the ministry remains committed to resolving disputes through dialogue, emphasizing the need to preserve community honor and brotherhood.

The opposition Kulmiye party also voiced alarm, calling it “tragic” that fellow Muslims were fighting during Ramadan. The party urged the government to urgently mediate between the clans and to activate traditional elders and local intellectuals to steer the sides toward a durable settlement.

Meanwhile, the Northeastern administration on Thursday accused North Western State of Somalia of inciting the conflict in Waqdaria, alleging external interference had contributed to the flare-up. North Western State of Somalia authorities did not immediately respond to the allegation.

Independent accounts from the area indicate the clashes are rooted in longstanding inter-clan disputes over land and grazing boundaries. Local sources say tensions have simmered for months and intensified in recent days, culminating in armed confrontation. No official toll was immediately available.

The appeals underscore the fragility of security in parts of the Sanaag region, where communities depend on shared rangelands and water points that become flashpoints during periods of stress. With Ramadan underway, religious leaders and elders traditionally play a central role in brokering cease-fires and persuading rival sides to accept confidence-building steps, including prisoner releases, withdrawal from contested sites and the reopening of roads to allow aid and medical evacuation.

Authorities did not announce new deployments or a formal mediation timeline on Thursday. However, officials and community figures in Hargeisa said the priority is to secure a halt to fire to allow talks to begin, followed by locally led negotiations on grazing corridors and boundary demarcations to prevent renewed clashes.

Regional observers say the coming days will test whether appeals from political leaders, religious authorities and clan elders can translate into a verifiable cease-fire on the ground. Ramadan often provides a window for reconciliation efforts, they note, but agreements can quickly unravel without mechanisms to monitor compliance and resolve disputes over pasture and movement.

What happens next will likely hinge on immediate confidence-building measures between the two clans, the speed at which mediators can convene face-to-face dialogue in or near Lasqoray, and whether outside actors refrain from actions that could inflame tensions. For now, Irro’s call places the onus on local commanders and community leaders to silence the guns and allow Ramadan to proceed in peace.

By Ali Musa

Axadle Times international–Monitoring.