Concerns mount over EU-funded military base amid escalating clan conflict in central Somalia

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Concerns mount over EU-funded military base amid escalating clan conflict in central Somalia

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) – The announcement by the European Union on Tuesday, July 12, regarding the funding of a new military base in Dhusamareb has raised serious concerns among the Somali population.

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EU, UN officials are seen during a steering committee meeting held on Tuesday 11 July 2023. | PHOTO OFFICIAL.

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) – The announcement by the European Union on Tuesday, July 12, regarding the funding of a new military base in Dhusamareb has raised serious concerns among the Somali population.

While the EU claims that its support for the construction of the military base showcases its commitment to supporting Somalia’s security infrastructure, there are pressing issues unfolding in the same region of Galgaduud that cannot be ignored.

In recent times, various clan militia groups in Galgaduud have been arming themselves to counter the threats posed by rival clans. The renewed clan conflict in this region has resulted in deadly clashes in rural areas surrounding Dhusamareb.

On Sunday, July 9, at least five people lost their lives in Lebi Caano, a town located approximately 35 kilometers from Dhusamareb. Just last month, violent confrontations continued between Dhusamareb and Adado, resulting in the deaths of at least eight individuals and leaving over 10 others injured. These clashes were fueled by disputes over land ownership and the control of villages in the rural areas.

Disturbing reports from residents in the area indicate a significant escalation of hostilities on Wednesday afternoon, with clashes spreading to the village of Shuriye Jige near Gadoon in the Galgadud region.

Abdirahman Moalim Geeda-Qorow, the Dhusamareb District Commissioner in the Galmudug administration, expressed his deep concern about the escalating violence rooted in clan conflicts driven by a scramble for resources and power.

Sources from the region have revealed that the training of militias and the influx of weapons from Mogadishu to the Galgadud region have intensified, exacerbating the inter-clan fighting.

Merely a week ago, over 100 men, allegedly new recruits of the national intelligence agency (NISA), were transported from Dhusamareb to Mogadishu to undergo training and receive weapons, with the possibility of returning to the region.

Clan leaders in the area believe that the director of Somalia’s national intelligence, Mahad Salad, continues to arm his fellow clansmen to overpower rival clans in the region. Just on Tuesday, members of the Duduble clan elders held a widely reported press conference in Mogadishu, where they expressed concerns about the safety of their men traveling within the region.

"Our clansmen are unable to travel safely from Dhusamareb to other destinations. We have been restraining ourselves, but now we feel pushed to our limits,” warned the clan elders.

Adding to the growing concerns, clan elders in the region have raised the issue that the new military base funded by the European Union might be utilized to harbor clan militias favored by Dhusamareb, potentially exacerbating the violence in the region.

Despite the mounting apprehensions expressed, the European Union in Somalia persists with its course of action, without fully acknowledging the potential ramifications and the burden placed on European taxpayers.

As the European Union forges ahead with its plans, it is the local population who remain vigilant about the potential consequences for the region, which are now shrouded in uncertainty.