Tensions In Baidowa After Clashes Between ‎Local Militia And Majerteen Troops‎

Baidowa , Somalia , June 10, 2006 (SL Times) – Tensions are high in Baidowa following yesterday’s clashes between a local militia belonging to the Geledleh sub-clan and Majerteen troops deployed in and around Somalia ’s interim president Abdillahi Yusuf.

At least 14 people got killed while over 20 were wounded after the fighting erupted in early morning.

The compound which is located in central Baidowa has been guarded by an exclusively Majerteen militia from Puntland, the home region of Abdillahi Yusuf.

The fighting was triggered by the confiscation of two guns belonging to Geledleh militiamen by president Yusuf’s security guards. The incident prompted the local militia which were stationed at the Manaaf camp, not far from the seat of government, to move to Abdillahi Yusuf’s compound.

Sources in the Transitional Federal Government blamed the local militia for starting the fighting. However the Geledleh group has held that they came to the compound to recover their 2 rifles peacefully when the security guards opened fire.

Several hours after the fighting a Majerteen man was killed in the town area in Baidowa in what seemed to be a retaliatory action.

The situation has been aggravated by wide-spread rumors in Baidowa that Mohamed Habsade, the local warlord in control of the town, was being held as hostage in Libya .

Habsade had accompanied Abdillahi Yusuf to Tripoli on last week. Though Mr. Yusuf returned to Baidowa, however Habsade stayed in Libya .

There have been persistent reports that president Yusuf requested his Libyan friends to make sure that Habsade remained stuck in Tripoli . The two warlords were known to dislike each other.

Meanwhile TFG leaders have decided against the candidacy of a Habsade protégé for the position of Baidowa administrator. The job was given to someone else from another sub-clan.