2/6/2025
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102-year-old elder killed in Hiiraan region as clan dispute escalates


Tuesday February 4, 2025



Mogadishu (HOL) — A 102-year-old elder was killed by an armed clan militia in Halfooley village, located in Somalia’s Hiiraan region, in what authorities and residents describe as a revenge attack linked to clan grievances.

The victim, identified as Guudlawe Omar Guled, was a respected community leader known widely in Halfooley, a village under the jurisdiction of Jalalaqsi district. Local sources confirmed that Guled’s death was part of a long-standing feud over land ownership and grazing rights between the Hawadle and Abgaal clans, two groups with a history of territorial disputes.

Officials and witnesses reported that the armed assailants responsible for the killing came from the Middle Shabelle region. The attackers allegedly targeted Guled as part of a retaliatory act stemming from unresolved clan disputes. The incident has caused widespread shock and grief in Halfooley and neighbouring areas, where residents fear further violence.

The killing comes amid escalating tensions in the region, where disputes over grazing land along the shared border of the Hiiraan and Middle Shabelle regions have fueled inter-clan hostilities. In recent months, the conflict has intensified, leading to several violent incidents and a growing concern among local communities about potential reprisals.

Community leaders and local authorities have condemned the killing and are calling for immediate government intervention to de-escalate tensions and prevent further bloodshed. Security forces have reportedly launched an investigation to apprehend the perpetrators, but no arrests have been made as of Tuesday.

The death of Guudlaawe Omar Guled spotlights the ongoing challenges Somalia faces in addressing clan-based conflicts, particularly in regions where access to grazing land and resources remains a critical source of friction. National reconciliation efforts have been a focal point of recent government initiatives, but incidents like this illustrate the difficulties in achieving long-term peace.

The government has yet to issue an official statement regarding the killing, but elders and mediators from both clans are reportedly planning peace talks to defuse tensions. 



 





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