Fresh fighting leaves several dead in Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Several people may have died on Sunday in Western Somalia following fresh fighting in the Gedo region, multiple sources confirmed, in the latest wave of violence within the country which directly affects stabilization efforts in the Horn of Africa nation.

According to reports, fighting broke out in Luuq town within the Gedo region but the cause was not immediately established. There is a large presence of Ethiopian troops in the town, who are responsible for peacekeeping missions in the area.

Heavy exchange of fire was reported forcing residents to flee the town for fear of their safety, multiple sources confirmed. The number of those killed could not be immediately established due to the fluidity of the situation at the time.

Those injured have since been admitted to various hospitals where they are being attended to, other sources confirmed. The number of those injured was not made public as well but dozens are believed to have suffered injuries during the skirmishes.

The cause of the fighting was unclear but comes barely three months after at least 15 people were killed and over 40,000 others displaced in a series of clashes that lasted for over a week. Clan fights are common in Somalia.

But the regional government of Jubaland blamed local militias which it accused of diverting attention from the fight against Al-Shabaab. The local militias are said to be battling for control of the strategic town in Somalia, which borders Ethiopia and somehow, Kenya.

It is in Luuq town the Ethiopian troops have been crossing over to Somalia, at times raising concerns among locals. Thousands of Ethiopian troops are not part of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and are stationed in Somalia.

Somalia is fighting instability partly caused by clan violence and Al-Shabaab militants who are keen to topple the fragile UN-backed federal government of Somalia. However, the group has significantly lost ground in recent years after the government launched a crackdown against them.

GAROWE ONLINE