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KISMAYO, Somalia Jun 27 2013 (Garowe Online) – The coveted port city of Kismayo was home to a fierce battle between Jubaland forces alongside Kenya and a clan militia led by warlord Barre Hiraale, Garowe Online reports.
Captain Abdi Hassan Mohamud who spoke to Radio Garowe’s Ali Fantastic stated that the situation was calm after clan militia loyal to self-proclaimed Jubaland President Barre Hiraale and Jubaland troops clashed on Wednesday. Again on Thursday clan militia were accused of carrying out a grenade attack on AMISOM forces.

There are conflicting reports of Thursday’s casualties in the grenade attack. Some reports say that 5 Sierra Leoneans were killed. However Captain Mohamud told Radio Garowe that there were no casualties in the attack but a vehicle was destroyed.

He accused the clan militia of receiving support from sources in Mogadishu with alleged ties to the Somali Federal Government (SFG).

“The support is coming from Mogadishu with the knowledge of the SFG we believe. These men [clan militia] are warlords who do not want Jubaland state to prosper. They are anti-peace and pro war,” said Captain Mohamud.

Kismayo residents told GO that the tensions are still very high as the allied forces are preparing to launch offensives against the clan militia.

Captain Mohamud confirmed to Radio Garowe that allied forces would be carrying out offensives to “rid armed clan militias of their weapons”.

He also stated that talks with warlord Barre Hiraale have dissolved as he has refused to disarm himself and his armed militia. “Barre Hiraale has been sent from Mogadishu to stir trouble and try to disrupt the Jubaland state government,” said Captain Mohamud.

Jubaland state was established earlier this year following 870 delegates from the three regions that make up Jubaland adopting a Transitional State Charter for the state in southern Somalia.

Former Raskamboni militia leader Ahmed Madoobe was elected after a majority vote by 500 delegates allocated from the local communities from the region of Lower Jubba, Middle Jubba and Gedo.

The SFG has opposed Jubaland state arguing that the state’s process was not legitimate.

President Madoobe – whose term as President is three years – has argued that his government is existing because of the residents of Jubaland’s choice, said his government would not backtrack.

“Jubaland state has reached great success and we cannot afford to backtrack, we want to be an example for the Federal [states] Somalia,” said Madoobe earlier this month.

http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/pub ... mayo.shtml

I will be in Kismayo in November and will slap some KabiyoLax while visiting my relatives in Jilib.

I fail to see anything controversial in the article, if anything it only confirms what everyone already knew. On one side, an inter-tribal administration led by young men attempting to bring stability to the southernmost regions. On the other, a has been warlord sent to Kismayo in order to work against the peace & promote clan warfare.

From the moment Hiiraale landed in Kismayo I laughed at the Snet members who taught that the young MX leaders would let their elder take the shine from them.