Two killed in fresh clashes in Galkaayo

Two people have been killed and three others injured in Galkaayo town after heavy fighting broke out between forces loyal to Puntland and Galmudug

The residents said the fighting flared Saturday evening and both forces have used heavy weapons and anti-aircraft guns in the clashes.

Authorities of Puntland and Galmudug haven’t released statement on the renewed fighting, which led to the flee of hundreds of residents from the city that is divided between both regions.

Earlier, Puntland authority said the clashes is “politically motivated” and accused Somali government of providing military support to Galmudug militias in their attacks against Puntland troops and civilian.

The confrontation erupted at the outskirts of the city at a site where Puntland government is building a livestock market.

Meanwhile, Hirsi Yusuf Barre, the mayor of Galkayo south under Galmudug State administration, said three members of their Galmudug militia had been killed on Thursday and five injured.

The dispute centered around plans by militia from the north part of town, who are allied with Puntland, to build in the south part of town, he said.

“Puntland wants to build in parts of our south Galkayo by force and that is an aggression we will not accept,” he said. “Puntland tanks started shelling us yesterday and we had to respond.”

The fresh clashes broke out in Galkayo on Oct. 7 and a peace agreement reached by clan elders and the business community two days later failed to hold and fighting erupted less than 24 hours after it was signed.

On Friday, the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the renewed fighting between regional forces from Galmudug and Puntland in the central Somali Galkayo town has displaced 50,000 others.

Galkayo is divided into two zones, where the northern portion forms part of Puntland state, while its southern part is governed by the Galmudug administration.