June 09, 2013
At least eight people have been killed as fighting between the Ras Kamboni militia and a rival militia flared up again in Kismayo, witnesses told AFP Saturday (June 8th).
The parties to the clashes support two different people claiming to be president of the Jubbaland state -- Ras Kamboni leader Ahmed Madobe and tribal leader Iftin Hassan Basto.
Fighting broke out Friday evening, paused overnight, but resumed Saturday.
"Fighting started when soldiers from Ras Kamboni attacked and tried to arrest me," Basto told reporters. "But my men fought back and defended me."
Eyewitnesses said eight people were killed in the clashes, while several wounded people were seen being taken to hospital.
"I saw eight dead, three of them civilians, but the toll could be higher as many were wounded," said Mohamed Farey, a resident of Kismayo.
Ras Kamboni spokesman Abdinasir Serar insisted his troops were in full control of Kismayo. "We will end the fighting soon, after we arrest those who were preparing for attacks," he said.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said Sunday he was "very sad" to hear of renewed conflict in Kismayo.
"It is so wrong to see Somalis fighting each other in this way, and violence cannot be used as a means to achieve political ambitions," he said at a press conference in Mogadishu. "The time for fighting is over. We must unite and seek to resolve our differences peacefully. We must unite for the fight against al-Shabaab."
Mohamud said the government would soon hold a reconciliation conference in Kismayo as laid out in the Intergovernmental Authority on Development Heads of State Communique on May 24th.
Somali Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon has called on the parties to seek reconciliation through dialogue.
"I suggest for Kismayo sides to stop fighting and solve their difference through dialogue," he said in a statement. "Kismayo and its population cannot avoid fresh tension; I urge the fighting sides to look for another solution rather than fighting."
The parties to the clashes support two different people claiming to be president of the Jubbaland state -- Ras Kamboni leader Ahmed Madobe and tribal leader Iftin Hassan Basto.
Fighting broke out Friday evening, paused overnight, but resumed Saturday.
"Fighting started when soldiers from Ras Kamboni attacked and tried to arrest me," Basto told reporters. "But my men fought back and defended me."
Eyewitnesses said eight people were killed in the clashes, while several wounded people were seen being taken to hospital.
"I saw eight dead, three of them civilians, but the toll could be higher as many were wounded," said Mohamed Farey, a resident of Kismayo.
Ras Kamboni spokesman Abdinasir Serar insisted his troops were in full control of Kismayo. "We will end the fighting soon, after we arrest those who were preparing for attacks," he said.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said Sunday he was "very sad" to hear of renewed conflict in Kismayo.
"It is so wrong to see Somalis fighting each other in this way, and violence cannot be used as a means to achieve political ambitions," he said at a press conference in Mogadishu. "The time for fighting is over. We must unite and seek to resolve our differences peacefully. We must unite for the fight against al-Shabaab."
Mohamud said the government would soon hold a reconciliation conference in Kismayo as laid out in the Intergovernmental Authority on Development Heads of State Communique on May 24th.
Somali Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon has called on the parties to seek reconciliation through dialogue.
"I suggest for Kismayo sides to stop fighting and solve their difference through dialogue," he said in a statement. "Kismayo and its population cannot avoid fresh tension; I urge the fighting sides to look for another solution rather than fighting."
No comments:
Post a Comment