Three injured in clan clashes in Marka

At least three people were injured mostly civilians, injured after a fierce fighting broke out On Saturday  in Marka town, the provincial headquarter of Lower Shabelle.

Residents said the clashes began as opposing clan based militias attacked rival clan militias who were  in  the town of Marka, causing a heavy fight to break out between the two in which both sides used heavy weaponry.

Farah Mohamed, a resident in says the hospital has received three people who had sustained several injuries in the clashes in Lower Shabelle region.

“The only working hospital in the town received three victims of the clash, some of them suffered severe injuries,” Mohamed said.

The clashes between the two rival clans had started Saturday following a land dispute, while the local elders been able to mediate between the groups, a lasting ceasefire has never been achieved.

Arguments over land use, boreholes and pasture have perennially contributed to fighting among Somali clans who are largely pastoralists.

Several calls have been made to the AMISOM forces stationed in the area to intervene and prevent the fighting, however the response so far has been minimal to none.