The armed clash broke out between the Darwish forces and the military divided along clan lines. Darwish, predominantly from Rahanweyn is a police unit trained and equipped by the European Union, UK and U.N. through a joint police program while the military in Elbarde are composed of ethnic Ogaden and trained by Ethiopia.

The conflict escalated dramatically when a soldier from the Darwish force was shot by the military forces.  The casualties of this fierce battle include combatants from both sides, as well as innocent civilians caught in the crossfire.

Frightened by the violence, civilians are fleeing the area, seeking safety elsewhere. Disturbing online videos have emerged, showing the bodies of deceased soldiers strewn across the streets.

The tension in Elbarde had been mounting recently after local clan elders rejected a newly appointed administration by the Southwest authorities in Baidoa. The control of Elbarde has been a subject of dispute between the Ogaden and Rahanweyn ethnic groups.

No official statements have been released by the military or Southwest authorities regarding the armed conflict in Elbarde or the underlying reasons that led to its eruption.

The residents of Ebarde town have been enduring severe humanitarian hardships as a result of an prolonged siege enforced by the al-Shabaab militant group since the entrance of government forces and allied Ethiopian forces into the town in 2018.

Wednesday’s clash follows closely on the heels of a similar outbreak of violence in Barawe, located in the Lower Shabelle region, where the Hawiye-dominated military units clashed with the Darwish forces of Rahanweyn from the Southwest, resulting in loss of life and property.

The conflict in Elbarde marks the fourth instance of ethnic warfare in Southwest Somalia, following previous conflicts in Marka, Yaaqbiriweyne, and the recent one in Barawe.

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The conflict involves the Darwish police force, trained by the European Union and the United Nations, affiliated with the Southwest state and predominantly composed of Rahanweyn clan members, and the military from the Somali national army and mainly trained in Uganda and Ethiopia, primarily consisting of Hawiye clan members.

Both sides are vying for control of the city and its resources, including revenue collection checkpoints. The Monday clashes began after Darwish force killed a member of the military, according to local media reports.

The casualties reported thus far include combatants from both factions as well as innocent civilians residing in the area. Terrified residents have sought refuge in buildings since Monday afternoon as the intensity of the gun battle increased throughout Tuesday.

A significant concern for local civilians is their inability to flee the city, as roads outside Barawe are under the control of al-Shabaab, a militant group that poses a threat to all, including civilians.

Halima Omar, a resident of Barawe, expressed the community’s desperation, stating, “We don’t know what to do because we cannot flee. There is a relative calm today, but we are unsure of the future as both factions continue to oppose each other from their positions.”

Each side has blamed the other for initiating the conflict. Abdirahman Elmi, a military commander, claimed that his forces were attacked by the Rahanweyn men, leading to the death of one soldier. However, officers from the Darwish police unit refuted these allegations.

Meanwhile, a group of lawmakers from the Rahanweyn community held a press conference in Mogadishu, accusing certain individuals within the military of employing clan motives, which could further exacerbate the conflict.

MP Abdirashid Jili, stated, “Clan fighting has been ongoing in Somalia, and no clan has emerged victorious. The security forces of the Southwest state were attacked by the military. We cannot allow this to happen. We will seek answers.”

While relative calm has been reported on Wednesday, both armed factions remain fortified in their defensive positions, heightening the risk of further confrontations. Business activities and schools in the area have remained closed as locals express uncertainty about the situation.

The military has taken control of the Barawe airstrip and significant portions of the city, while the Darwish police force has barricaded themselves at the state house building. Journalists on the ground have reported an influx of armed reinforcements and weapons for both sides.

The clashes in Barawe mark the third instance of clan-based violence in the Lower Shabelle region. For years, the Biyamal and Habar-Gidir clans have been engaged in conflict over control and resources in and around Marka town, the regional capital. Recently, deadly fighting erupted between the Galje’el and Shan Alemod clans in and around Yaaqbiriweyne. The escalation of such violence underscores the deep-rooted challenges posed by clan divisions in Somalia, threatening stability and the well-being of communities across the country.

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