Muqdisho (Banaadir24) — Somalia is facing a potentially dangerous escalation in the Hiiraan region after the traditional leadership of the Hawadle clan openly challenged the deployment of forces allegedly operating under the banner of the Federal Government, accusing President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration of using clan-based fighters under the name of the Somali National Army.
The growing confrontation has sparked serious concerns about the possibility of armed conflict in central Somalia, with the Hawadle community rejecting what it describes as an attempt to use federal military institutions to advance clan interests and impose control over its territory.
The traditional leader (Ugaas) of the Hawadle clan has called for widespread community mobilization, urging members to prepare to defend their territory against what he described as an advancing force. He called on community members to contribute to the mobilization through military participation or financial support.
In a particularly significant development, the Ugaas called on Hawadle soldiers serving in the Somali National Army to leave their federal military positions and join his forces in Beledweyne by tomorrow morning, a demand that could deepen divisions within Somalia’s national security institutions.
He also urged members of other communities serving in the national army not to participate in military operations against the Hawadle community.
The confrontation places President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration under renewed pressure, as the dispute raises questions about the neutrality of federal security institutions and the growing involvement of clan dynamics in Somalia’s security affairs.
FEARS OF A WIDER CONFLICT
The developments in Hiiraan have raised fears that Somalia could once again slide into a cycle of internal armed confrontation, at a time when the country is already dealing with serious security challenges, political divisions and the ongoing fight against Al-Shabaab.
Critics of the government’s approach may view the escalating situation as another example of how political and clan-based confrontations could undermine national unity and weaken the country’s security institutions.
The most immediate concern is whether the dispute can be contained through political dialogue before mobilization on both sides develops into direct armed confrontation.
For Somalia, the stakes extend beyond Hiiraan. A confrontation involving federal forces and clan mobilization could create new security vulnerabilities, deepen political fragmentation and potentially open another dangerous chapter in the country’s long history of internal conflict.
The situation remains tense, with developments in Beledweyne expected to be closely watched.
