Friday December 27, 2024
FILE PHOTO
Mogadishu (HOL) – At least six Somali military personnel and their driver were killed, while two other soldiers managed to escape following a clan militia attack in the El-Baraf district of the Middle Shabelle region on Thursday afternoon.
The victims, who were on leave and travelling to their families in the Hiiraan region, were ambushed and brutally executed by militia fighters in what appears to be a revenge attack. Local residents reported that the soldiers, all young men from the Hawadle clan, were shot in the head.
The attack is tied to ongoing clan conflicts between the Hawadle and Abgaal clans, which have flared up in El-Baraf and other areas along the border of Hiiraan and Middle Shabelle regions. Despite earlier peace efforts, tensions remain unresolved, leading to continued violence.
Residents have expressed concerns that the killings could reignite a larger conflict in the border areas, where tensions have simmered for months. The federal and Hirshabelle administrations have yet to comment on the incident.
