General information
Part of Conflict: n/a
First Battle Related Death: 2001-11-21
Date when dyad reached 25 battle releated deaths: 2002-08-02
Comment on date when dyad reached 25 battle related deaths: The non-state conflict between the Forces of Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed and the Forces of Jama Ali Jama is first included in UCDP data in 2002. In August that year a battle in Qayadsame left 17 people dead, raising the battle-related deaths toll above the 25 battle-related threshold.
Conflict issues
Annual information
This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.
2001
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 13 |
| Best | 11 |
| Low | 11 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Forces of Abdullahi Yusuf): n/a
Side B (Forces of Jama Ali Jama): n/a
2002
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 238 |
| Best | 70 |
| Low | 68 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Forces of Abdullahi Yusuf): n/a
Side B (Forces of Jama Ali Jama): n/a
2003
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 0 |
| Best | 0 |
| Low | 0 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Forces of Abdullahi Yusuf): n/a
Side B (Forces of Jama Ali Jama): n/a
Dyad Archive
This section contains annual information no longer systematically collected by the UCDP.
2001 Dyad Archive
Terminated: NO
2002 Dyad Archive
Comment on Yearly Battle Related Deaths: While fighting between the two groups is said to have caused civilian casualties, a large majority of those killed are thought to have been non-state combatants, forces of the warring parties.
Comment on Active: The forces of Abdullahi Yusuf and the forces of Jama Ali Jama clashed on several occasions during the year. 2002 saw two separate claims for leadership over Puntland, with opponents at one point controlling separate administrations in different parts of the territory. The forces of Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, also known as the Darawish forces, launched attacks against the forces of Jama Ali Jama, driving the latter out of Puntland capital Garowe. Jama Ali Jama’s forces withdrew to the northern port city Bossasso, Puntland’s commercial capital. Violent skirmishes followed in the path of Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed’s advance on Bossasso. The bulk of the fighting occurred in the first week of May and in the beginning of August, as Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed’s forces made significant territorial gains. Early in the year, an Ethiopian delegation is said to have visited Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed-an ally to Ethiopia-in Garowe, spawning suspicions of collaboration in his claim to the presidency. Ethiopia denied direct involvement in the power struggle.
Early May, 600-800 forces of Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed’s militia and 30 so-called ‘technicals’, pick-up vehicles with a mounted machine gun or other small arm, are said to have left Garowe to pursue Jama Ali Jama’s forces and try to retake their Bossasso stronghold. According to sources loyal to Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, his forces were conducting an operation to restore law and order to Puntland, code-named ‘Puntland Stability First’. In two days of clashes, Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed’s forces were first able to take control over Gardo, a half-way point between Garowe and Bossasso, as Jama Ali Jama’s forces fled. This period of fighting was preceded by failed mediation efforts between the two rival leaders, led by Ethiopia. After capturing Gardo, Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed’s forces were on 8 May able to seize Bossasso without firing a single shot, following an arrangement with local elders and other community representatives. With the fall of Bossasso, Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed had retaken control over Puntland’s major towns, and effectively consolidated his control over the country. Jama Ali Jama is said to have left for Libya via first Somaliland and then Djibouti.
In August, further clashes took place in the Sool and Bari regions, following an offensive on behalf of Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed’s forces. At year’s end, renewed clashes in Qararsor, Jedad, left several fighters dead. In consolidating his leadership over Puntland, Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed is said to have promoted harsh methods. In the context of non-state conflict, there were accounts of atrocities on behalf of his forces, such as forced disappearances and killings of critics. Clan elders are said to have been particularly targeted. There were also accusations of large-scale arrests of civilians.
Terminated: NO
2003 Dyad Archive
Terminated: NO
