By: Horn Africa News
El-Bur – Intense clan fighting broke out early Thursday in the Meersiis area of El-Bur district, located in Somalia’s central Galgaduud region. The violence involves rival clan militias and marks a serious escalation of long-standing tensions in the area.
According to local sources, the clashes were triggered by a deadly incident that occurred the previous day in the nearby village of Tuke-gaw, where four pastoralists were brutally killed. The victims are believed to be members of one of the clans now engaged in the fighting. The killings have ignited anger and prompted a swift and violent retaliatory response.
Eyewitnesses confirm heavy gunfire and the use of various weapons on both sides. Due to limited telecommunications infrastructure in the region, the number of casualties remains unconfirmed. However, residents fear the death toll could be substantial.
“This violence has already resulted in deaths and injuries,” said a local elder, speaking on condition of anonymity. “People are terrified, and unless action is taken immediately, the situation could spiral out of control.”
Despite the seriousness of the clashes, there have been no official statements from either the Galgaduud regional administration or Galmudug State authorities. The lack of government response has left local communities vulnerable, with many calling for urgent intervention.
Community leaders are urging both regional and federal authorities to step in, restore order, and launch efforts to mediate and resolve the conflict.
This latest violence underscores the fragile security conditions in parts of central Somalia, where unresolved clan disputes and the absence of effective governance continue to fuel cycles of violence, displacement, and instability.
