Bid launched to end protracted inter-clan clashes over property ownership in Garissa

Garissa County has initiated reconciliation talks between two sub-clans entangled in a protracted boundary dispute that has lead to the deaths of about 12 people and displacement of hundreds of others.

Auliahan and Abdiwak, two sub-clans of the larger Ogaden Somali clan, have been involved in a year-long bloody conflict over ownership of Qabobey location. Led by Garissa Senator Mohamed Yussuf Hajj, the leaders called on the two clans to avoid further bloodshed.

Mr Hajj said it was unfortunate that communities in Northern region were always killing each other over matters that could be resolved through dialogue.

Border disputes

He called on local community elders to use traditional mechanisms to solve border disputes and other disagreements among residents.

"Differences over land and property ownership have been with us since time immemorial, but incidents of communities killing each other over such disputes are a recent phenomenon," he said.

Two weeks ago, an old man was killed and others injured when they were ambushed while herding camels by armed people suspected to be from a rival clan. Hajj said he had written to the Land Commission and Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) requesting them to help end the land rows.