At least 4 dead as UAE-trained Somali forces clash with clan militia in central Somalia

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At least 4 dead as UAE-trained Somali forces clash with clan militia in central Somalia

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) – In the heart of Somalia's Hiiraan region, the town of Maxaas bore witness to a day of relentless combat, leaving at least four soldiers dead and the community gripped by chaos on Saturday.

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Somali Government forces were recently deployed into Maxaas.

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) – In the heart of Somalia's Hiiraan region, the town of Maxaas bore witness to a day of relentless combat, leaving at least four soldiers dead and the community gripped by chaos on Saturday.

The intense clash unfolded between United Arab Emirates-trained Somali forces, and the local Xawaadle clan militia, sparked by the tragic demise of a townsman.

As the sun set on a seemingly peaceful Saturday, violence exploded onto the scene. The UAE-trained brigade, known as Khalid bin Waled, fatally shot a Xawadle fighter within the city’s limits. In response, the Xawadle militia, known as Ma’wisleys, seized their weapons and descended upon the army encampment situated on the town’s outskirts.

What followed was a ferocious exchange of gunfire, punctuated by the thunderous roar of mortar shells that reverberated throughout the evening. With determination, the local militia managed to drive the army forces out of the city, reclaiming their home turf.

Maxaas resident Ali Nur Mohamed shared a harrowing account of how civilians fled for their lives as mortar shells rained down upon the city center, bringing normal life and business activities to a grinding halt.

The district commissioner, Muumin Halane, characterized the conflict as "unforeseen,” yet the battle persisted well into the night.

"We are trying to have a ceasefire reached first,” the district commissioner added while extending his heartfelt condolences to those who lost their lives in the confrontation.

A security officer stationed in Maxaas reported a grim toll: three soldiers lay dead, and eight firearms, along with ammunition, were seized by the Ma’awisley militia.

The clan militia even released videos purporting to show captured soldiers from the fierce Saturday afternoon battle.

Deep-seated clan animosities have been a driving force behind this conflict, prompting both sides to call for reinforcements.

Amidst the chaos, Ma’awisley commanders and Maxaas officials levied serious accusations against government forces, alleging rampant looting, sexual assault, and the targeting of local residents. It is these abuses that they claim to resist, emphasizing their frustration with Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s perceived indifference to their pleas for an end to the thievery and misconduct committed by these forces.

The UAE-trained troops in Maxaas were recently deployed are part of the Somali government’s broader offensive against Al-Shabaab in the region.

Desperate for respite from the bloodshed, government officials and clan elders are urgently calling for outside intervention and a ceasefire to quell the escalating violence.