“All Somalis are brothers and sisters. This conflict must end,” declared 69-year-old Hawo Mohamed during a community-led reconciliation gathering held last December to end local clan hostilities that had already claimed several innocent lives.

From the highlands of Sool and Sanaag to the scorched pastoral lands of Mudug and the shattered districts of southern Somalia, the scars of violence run deep.

Clan-based conflicts—rooted in historical grievances and modern political fractures—have caused untold deaths, injuries, and displacement across the country.

Despite over three decades of civil war, state collapse, and repeated peace initiatives, one question looms large: Why do clan wars keep returning? And why has Somalia failed to find a lasting solution?

Kaab TV set out to answer these questions through interviews with those most affected—displaced families, elders, youth, women, and community leaders in Puntland.

The Toll of Galkayo

Nuur Ibrahim’s life was forever changed in 2016 when his nine-year-old son was killed in the crossfire during clashes in Galkayo between rival Puntland and Galmudug forces.

“That morning, people died. My son was among them. He was just a schoolboy,” Nuur said, sitting inside a displacement camp in Garowe, where he now lives with his family.

His grief is echoed by Abdi Ibrahim, who lost his niece in the same conflict. “She left for school that morning and never came back. A bullet took her life,” Abdi told us, hopeless that justice will ever reach his family.

These stories are far from isolated. Thousands of already displaced families in cities like Galkayo are frequently uprooted again by flare-ups in violence, fueled by competition over pasture, water, and land—and intensified by political polarization and the absence of effective governance.

Ahmed Abshir, an economics lecturer in Garowe, traced the roots of Somalia’s conflicts back to natural resource scarcity.

“Somalis have always been pastoralists. Conflicts over pasture and water have always existed. But the absence of community-led justice systems and the collapse of fair governance have made these disputes deadly,” he said.

He also warned that excluding women and youth from peacebuilding efforts, and sidelining intellectual voices, continues to hinder meaningful progress.

In early 2023, war between Somaliland and SSC-Khaatumo in Lasanood sparked yet another humanitarian crisis. Many displaced families—already refugees once—were forced to flee again.

Haawo Isaaq and Maryan Jimcaale were among them. “We went seven days without food before reaching Galkayo. From there, we made it to Garowe,” said Haawo.

Maryan, still haunted by what she witnessed, offered a simple truth: “Somalis must reconcile and unite. That’s the only way we’ll heal.”

The Puntland capital of Garowe, often seen as relatively stable, faced its own crisis in June 2023, when political tensions over elections erupted into nearly a month of unrest.

Protesters clashed with security forces. Civilians fled. Deaths were reported including civilians.

Maymuun Abdirisaaq, a young journalist, was supposed to attend her graduation ceremony that month. Instead, she fled with her family.

“Women came out to protest, demanding peace and dialogue. They marched to the gates of Parliament,” she recalled. “Youth also raised their voices.”

“Clannism Is a Rotting Corpse”

Elder Abdullahi Sheikh Mahmoud, now in his 70s, remembers a different Somalia—one where people traveled freely without fear of clan checkpoints or identity-based attacks.

“Clannism is a rotting corpse,” he said. “The real solution is justice and good governance. Disputes must be put aside. Religious scholars and elders must guide the people without bias.”

But unity remains difficult and a divided leadership only makes a divided nation.

Sheikh Cabdinur, a respected religious leader, criticized both politicians and religious scholars for their role in prolonging conflict.

“Our political leaders have sidelined religious figures. And our scholars are themselves divided. Without unity among leaders, peace will always be out of reach,” he said.

Still, he urged Somalis to raise their children differently—to reject clannism and embrace national identity.

Social Media: Catalyst for Peace or Conflict?

Social media has emerged as a double-edged sword. While it provides platforms for awareness and mobilization, it has also become a tool for incitement.

Disturbing videos from conflict zones—such as Mudug, Galgaduud, and the Shabelle regions—have been widely circulated. Some openly glorify clan-based militias and violence.

“Social media is now a major driver of conflict,” warned media analyst Hassan Heykal.

All those interviewed—whether elders, youth, women, or intellectuals—agree on four key solutions: Genuine reconciliation among all Somali communities, job creation and economic opportunities for youth, justice and rebuilding community trust and rejecting clannism in favor of inclusive national identity.

Without these, they say, the cycle of violence will continue—again and again.

But one final, sobering question remains: Who will take responsibility to lead Somalia out of this spiral?

The post War Without End? Somalia’s Clan Conflicts and the Search for Lasting Peace appeared first on Kaab TV.

The confrontations occurred in Garowe, the capital of the semi-autonomous state of Puntland, triggered by a dispute over constitutional amendments and opposing factions within the region’s political landscape.

General Jim’ale Jama Takar emerges as a prominent figure leading the opposition forces in Garowe.

Over the past year, General Jim’ale has played a central role in several violent clashes that unfolded in the region. Notably, at least three major clashes occurred between his loyal forces and the regional security forces, fueling tensions within the Puntland political sphere.

So who is General Jim’ale and what do we know about him?

General Jim’ale Jama Takar is a former officer of the Somali national army who served in the 21st battalion as a junior officer. He gained experience during the intense civil war in the 1990s when he joined the Somali Salvation Democratic Front (SSDF), a major Majerten-led political and paramilitary group that fought against the regime of Somalia’s late dictator, Mohamed Siyad Barre.

Following the formation of Puntland in 1998, General Jim’ale and his forces became part of the Puntland Darwish force. This brigade, under the command of General Jim’ale Jama Takar, consists of approximately 600 to 700 armed men equipped with heavy machine guns and artillery. They have now re-branded under the name “Danab” meaning ‘lightning’.

General Jim’ale and his forces have been actively engaged in various military operations. They played a crucial role in combating the al-Qaeda-linked militant group al-Shabaab in the mountainous region of Galgala.

They were deployed to coastal towns in the Nugal region, such as Garmaal and Suuj, to counter al-Shabaab incursions in 2016.

Political Connections

Former Puntland president Abdirahman Farole, who shares the same clan affiliation, appointed General Jim’ale as a general in the Puntland Darwish force. This appointment came as part of efforts to strengthen the regional military by incorporating newly trained units from Uganda and Ethiopia, facilitated through then transitional federal government of Somalia.

According to sources, General Jim’ale has been vocal about various issues, including unpaid salaries and perceived grievances which contributed to his dissatisfaction and involvement in protests against the Puntland state authorities.

During the Laascaanood conflict between Somaliland forces and the Dhulbahante clan militia on February 6, General Jim’ale and his troops joined the war by fighting alongside their fellow Dhulbahante clan forces. However, some of his men and vehicles were reportedly captured by Somaliland military during the battle.

In April, when politicians from the Majerten/Isse Mohamud faction opposed President Said Abdullahi Deni of Majerten/Osman Mohamud’s push for direct elections, General Jim’ale and his heavily armed forces were deployed to Garowe. They aligned themselves with the opposition politicians and began rebelling against the Puntland state security forces.

As the situation remains volatile in Puntland, the actions and influence of General Jim’ale Jama Takar continue to shape the ongoing conflict between the PMPF and the opposition forces in Puntland’s capital.

The post Profile: General Jim’ale Jama Takar – A key figure in Puntland’s political conflict appeared first on Kaab TV.

The confrontation erupted on Tuesday in Garowe, the capital of the semi-autonomous region of Puntland following dispute over constitutional amendments.

The conflict unfolded on the main street and nearby roads close to the Puntland parliament building in Garowe, as pro-opposition military units trained by Ethiopia and Uganda advanced towards the area on Monday night. The UAE-trained PMPF, supporting the region’s leader, took defensive positions in the city center, including residential buildings near the parliament.

#Garowe: Civilians are reporting heavy gun fight in Garowe, the capital of Puntland #Somalia, with videos showing vehicles mounted on anti-aircraft machine guns being used.

Mortar shelling has been reported in residential areas of Halgan neighborhood.

Casualties not known yet. pic.twitter.com/7IORpIepUT

— Kaab Somali TV (@KaabTV) June 20, 2023

Residents began fleeing the affected area on Monday as tensions escalated in what was once a stable city.

Witnesses reported indiscriminate mortar shelling in residential neighborhoods, particularly in the Halgan area and buildings around the main Soddonka road, forcing hundreds to seek refuge elsewhere.

The opposition forces, led by General Jimale Takar, have been opposing what they view as a term extension by the regional leader.

However, Puntland presidential officials stated that they were working on transitioning the region from a clan-based system of selecting government officials to a direct democracy.

This move follows last month’s direct elections in Puntland, where citizens voted for candidates from seven political organizations to represent their local governments.

According to local hospitals treating the injured, many of the victims in Tuesday’s clash were civilians.

Puntland Police Commissioner Muumin Abdi Shire attributed the fighting to the opposition forces, stating that the police officers guarding the parliament building had come under attack.

“Our officers securing the parliament were attacked. We were forced to defend ourselves. It is very unfortunate that this fighting broke out in the capital today,” he said, appealing to locals to remain calm and vigilant.

The police commissioner added that they had successfully repelled the opposition forces, who are currently outside the city center.

General Takar’s men have not commented yet.

Security sources indicate that the opposition fighters have retreated from the city center but may launch further attacks.

As the evening progresses, the confrontation appears to be cooling down, although sporadic gunshots can still be heard in some neighborhoods.

Meanwhile, members of the Puntland Parliament convened today and voted to amend the region’s constitution, paving the way for a full transition to democracy. This amendment allows the current president to remain in office after the expiration of his term in January 2024, a move that the opposition has strongly opposed.

A statement from the Parliament revealed that in today’s session, attended by 35 members, 34 voted in favor of amending the constitution, with only one member remaining silent.

The post At least 10 killed as armed fighting erupts in Puntland’s Capital appeared first on Kaab TV.